Protestors gather in front of Fayette County courthouse

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) - A group of protestors gathered in front of the Fayette County Courthouse Friday, angry over a decision to release a convicted felon from prison and put him on house arrest.

Demonstrators say they’re upset with the local judicial system for releasing convicted felon Timothy Benton early from state prison.

Court records show Benton was sentenced to 17 years in prison in 2020 on sex-related charges involving children. It’s not clear why the court released Benton early and sentenced him to house arrest with a GPS monitoring system.

“Hopefully he goes back to prison and anyone who messes with kids hopefully have to do the whole time, no parole or anything,” said protest organizer Chris Johnson.

“I feel like lettin’ him out of jail is wrong. Right is right, wrong is wrong and lettin’ him out is wrong and if they’re not going to stand up for the children, and I am with everybody else who is here, and we’re going to stand up for the children,” said Tracey Shaw.

WBRC 6 News reached out to district attorney Andy Hamlin who ‘declined to comment at this time.’

WBRC also tried to visit the judge’s office in the matter, however the Fayette County Courthouse closed Friday at 1.

WBRC is also still waiting for a reply from Benton’s attorney.

Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.