A Homewood man convicted of sexually molesting young boys was denied parole this morning.
The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles said Charles Donald "Don" Corley must remain behind bars. An 8 a.m. hearing was held in Montgomery.
Three of Corley's victims spoke, as did Mike Anderton who prosecuted Corley in 1995, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Homewood police Officer Chris Finley and Wanda Jones Miller on behalf of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
At least one of Corley's friends spoke on his behalf.
Corley, at one time a respected Boy Scout leader, Trinity United Methodist Church leader, white-collar worker, husband and father was convicted in 1995 of molesting three boys. Authorities said he left a trail of abuse over three decades - the 1970s, '80s and '90s - and estimate anywhere between a total of 40 to 120 victims.
Corley, now 66, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Several of his victims set up a website called "30 is 30" with the goal of ensuring Corley serves his full sentence. Two of his victims have previously spoken with AL.com about their hope that Corley will serve his full sentence.
In 2012, victim Jason Lee, then 41, spoke in depth about his decades-long struggle with the aftermath of Corley's abuse. He had spoken against Corley's release at his parole hearing in 2005, and had helped to launch 30 is 30 in 2012. Corley was denied parole both times.
Last month, Brandon Baginski, now 35, spoke out for the first time, chronicling his story that led to the high-profile investigation of Corley 23 years ago. Baginski, then 12 and the best friend of Corley's son, found himself the target of Corley's advances. He was raised by a single mother and lived just streets away from the well-respected Corley family.
"They (predators) look for boys who have needs, need a mentor, have dysfunction at home,'' he said. "I imagine he saw me at house all of the time thinking I didn't want to be at home, which was far from the truth. My mother is my rock. But he noticed I wasn't around a father a whole lot and he took on that father role. I wasn't a victim he noticed and sought out. I fell on his doorstep."
Corley gradually increased his attempts to get more physically intimate until, one night, he pulled down Baginski's pants. And that was the end. Baginski cut off all contact with Corley. A week or two later, Baginski was at a doctor's visit with his mother when she asked if he would be riding to church with Corley. When he said no, she asked if something was wrong. Baginski replied, "I hate when he touches me."
Homewood police then launched their investigation, and after only 2 1/2 weeks they charged Corley. Ultimately, three victims pressed charges and in 1995 Corley pled guilty to three counts of sex abuse and sodomy. He got the maximum sentence for each charge, to be served concurrently.
He reconnected with Jason Lee and 30 is 30, and went back and watched a jail interview with Corley that is on the website. "He got off the hook when only three people pressed charges,'' Baginski said. "I was reacquainted with the video recently and it was sickening, to be honest with you."
Prior to today's hearing, Baginski, Lee and others asked the community to write letters opposing Corley's parole. Letters opposing the parole were also submitted by Attorney General Jeff Session's Office, as well as Homewood Mayor Scott McBrayer and State Senator Jabo Waggoner. Michael Johnson, Director of Youth Protection for Boy Scouts of America was at today's hearing, along with other BSA officials.
With the accrual of "good time," behavior in prison, Corley's end of sentence is set for April 2020.
"I don't want the community to have to fear him," Baginski said.