Latest news with #Halls'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Split verdict for Uber driver accused of sexually abusing intoxicated passengers
AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) – A Lee County jury has returned a split verdict in the trial of Theodore Leroy Halls, a former Uber driver from Opelika accused of sexually assaulting two passengers in separate incidents in 2020 and 2022. After three days of emotional testimony, hours of dashcam footage, and intense closing arguments, the jury found Halls guilty of first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree sodomy related to the 2022 case. He was not convicted of first-degree rape, but jurors found him guilty of the lesser-included charge of first-degree sexual abuse in that incident. In the 2020 case, the jury found Halls not guilty of rape and not guilty of sexual abuse. Prosecutors described Halls as a predator, alleging he cruised downtown Auburn looking for women who were too intoxicated to legally consent. Both alleged victims testified they had no memory of getting into Halls' vehicle, of any sexual encounter, or of being dropped off. They said they could not have consented to what occurred. The case centered around disturbing dashcam footage recorded inside Halls' white GMC Yukon. The videos showed both women appearing disoriented, slurring, and struggling to dress themselves. In one instance, Halls was seen helping the woman pull her pants on after a sexual encounter. Halls took the stand in his own defense Thursday. He testified both women initiated the sexual activity and he believed the encounters were consensual. During cross-examination, prosecutors questioned the credibility of his account, citing his own recorded statements where he described one of the women as 'passed out' and 'and pointing to a search history that included pornographic content involving intoxicated women. Throughout the trial, Lee County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Tickal took deliberate steps to protect the integrity of the courtroom. Given the graphic nature of the evidence, he restricted access to the media room, limited movement in and out of the courtroom, and reminded jurors daily not to research or discuss the case. His efforts aimed to preserve fairness for both the prosecution and the defense, while safeguarding the dignity of the alleged victims. Judge Tickal did allow a single pool camera to record the reading of the verdict so it could be shared publicly. Following the verdict, Judge Tickal ordered Halls' to remain in custody until sentencing, which is scheduled for June 17, 2025. At the conclusion of Friday's proceedings, both the prosecution and defense declined to comment on the outcome. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Opelika man's Uber dashcam shows alleged sex assault of unconscious woman
AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) — In a Lee County courtroom, the trial of 48-year-old Theodore Leroy Halls of Opelika continues to unfold with graphic evidence, digital forensics, and emotional testimony. Halls, a former Uber driver, is accused of raping two women in separate incidents in 2020 and 2022—both of whom, prosecutors say, were too intoxicated to consent. Central to the case is dashcam footage recovered from Halls' white GMC Yukon, which prosecutors say shows the assaults in disturbing detail. Halls faces five felony charges, including Rape 1st Degree, Sodomy 1st Degree, and Sexual Abuse 1st Degree. The trial opened with testimony from the woman at the center of the April 2022 case. She told jurors she had been drinking with friends and went to SkyBar in downtown Auburn. A friend ordered her an Uber for the ride home—but the next thing she remembers is waking up in a jail cell, feeling sore, noticing bruises and hickeys, and feeling 'gross.' She testified she does not remember getting into the Uber, kissing the driver, being taken to Aspen Heights, or the alleged sexual encounter that followed at Tuskegee National Forest. She also has no memory of being driven back to Aspen Heights, where she was reportedly dropped off after the assault. She does not recall knocking on a stranger's door or being arrested by Auburn Police for public intoxication. According to testimony, her blood alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit at the time of her arrest. The woman later learned she had been missing for about an hour, and her roommate had become alarmed. After discussing her concerns with her mother, she went to the hospital. There, she was examined by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). A sexual assault kit was performed, and evidence of a sexual encounter was confirmed. Before Dashcam Video Is Before jurors saw any of the dashcam footage, they heard from the second alleged victim, who had previously been unaware she was assaulted. She testified in 2022, Auburn Police contacted her after discovering a video on Halls' cell phone, recovered during the investigation into the 2022 case. She said she had no memory of any encounter with Halls or of being assaulted. When shown a still image from the video, she identified herself. She also told jurors after reviewing photos taken that night, she remembered being at Southeastern Bar in downtown Auburn in December 2020, celebrating a friend's law school graduation. The last thing she remembers, she testified, was getting a drink at the bar. She does not recall getting into an Uber, being taken home, or any sexual interaction. On Wednesday afternoon, jurors were shown approximately half of the dashcam footage from the 2022 incident. Prosecutors say the full video lasts about an hour. The footage shows the victim slumped in the back seat, unresponsive. Loud 1980s hairband music plays throughout, and the interior lights flash intermittently. When they arrive at Aspen Heights, Halls attempts to wake her. She becomes semi-conscious, leans forward, and begins kissing him. Halls is then seen telling the woman they are going somewhere, and he begins driving again. Prosecutors say he drove her to Tuskegee National Forest, where the alleged sexual assault occurred. During the drive, the victim appears unconscious for most of the trip. Halls can be seen groping her and is heard giving her explicit instructions while describing what he intended to do to her. The language is too graphic to share in this article. The court paused the video before its conclusion. Jurors are expected to return Thursday morning to view the remainder. They are also expected to see dashcam footage connected to the 2020 incident later in the trial. An electronic forensics expert from the Auburn Police Department testified Halls had intentionally deleted the dashcam video by formatting the SD card. However, forensic tools allowed investigators to recover the raw video files, even though they were no longer organized into folders. Before the video was shown, another digital forensics examiner with APD testified about Halls' internet search history, which included visits to pornographic websites featuring rideshare drivers taking advantage of intoxicated women. One particularly graphic search phrase read aloud in court was: 'Drunk girl molested by rednecks.' Investigators revealed other searches for jurors but they are too explicit to share in this article. Prosecutors argued the search history demonstrated motive and intent. Auburn Police Investigator Leslie Filgo, the lead case agent, also testified about her early phone conversations with Halls. She said Halls admitted he had a naked, drunk girl in his vehicle and told her he had video evidence from the dashcam he had installed. Though he initially offered to share the footage, Filgo said Halls later changed his story. 'He no longer had the video. It had been recorded over after a certain number of hours—it resets,' Filgo testified Halls told her. Despite that claim, Halls later consented to turn over the SD card. Investigators were able to recover the full footage. 'His story changed,' Filgo said. The defense maintains both encounters were consensual. Defense attorneys also questioned both women about civil cases filed against Uber. It was revealed in court the 2022 victim has already settled her case with Uber for an undisclosed amount. The 2020 victim's case is ongoing. During questioning, the defense appeared to suggest a financial settlement might depend on finding a sexual assault occurred. Prosecutors objected to that line of questioning. Meanwhile, Lee County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Tickal is taking deliberate steps to protect the integrity of the trial as graphic testimony and evidence continue to unfold. Cameras have been barred from the courtroom, and access to the media room has been restricted to maintain a controlled, respectful environment. Judge Tickal has also repeatedly reminded jurors not to discuss the case, conduct outside research, or view media coverage—underscoring the importance of an impartial and untainted verdict. These measures reflect the court's effort to handle sensitive content with discretion and uphold the fairness of the judicial process. The trial resumes Thursday morning, with jurors set to finish viewing the 2022 dashcam video and hear further witness testimony. Halls remains in custody at the Lee County Detention Facility without bond. It is not yet known whether he will take the stand in his own defense. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
