Title: Ex parte State of Alabama. PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS (In re: Beryl R. Hiler v. State of Alabama)

State: alabama

Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court

Document:

REL: 12/04/2009 
N o t i c e : 
T h i s o p i n i o n i s 
s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e 
advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e 
r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of 
Decisions, 
Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 ((334) 229¬
0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any 
t y p o g r a p h i c a l 
o r 
o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may 
be 
made b e f o r e 
t h e o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 
1081296 
Ex p a r t e S t a t e o f 
Alabama 
PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI 
TO THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS 
(In r e : B e r y l R. H i l e r 
v. 
S t a t e o f Alabama) 
( F r a n k l i n C i r c u i t Court, CC-06-290; 
Court o f C r i m i n a l Appeals, CR-07-0361) 
SMITH, 
J u s t i c e . 
The S t a t e o f 
A l a b a m a p e t i t i o n e d 
t h i s C o u r t f o r 
a w r i t o f 
c e r t i o r a r i t o r e v i e w t h e 
C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s ' 
d e c i s i o n 
r e v e r s i n g B e r y l R. H i l e r ' s c o n v i c t i o n f o r f a l s e l y r e p o r t i n g an 
i n c i d e n t , a v i o l a t i o n o f 
§ 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 , A l a . Code 1 9 7 5 . 
H i l e r 
v. S t a t e , [Ms. 
CR-07-0361, May 1, 2009] 
So. 
3d 
( A l a . 
C r i m . A p p . 2 0 0 9 ) . 
We g r a n t e d 
c e r t i o r a r i r e v i e w t o c o n s i d e r , 
1081296 
as a m a t e r i a l q u e s t i o n o f 
f i r s t i m p r e s s i o n , w h e t h e r t h e 
p l a i n 
l a n g u a g e 
o f 
§ 13A-11-11 
p r o h i b i t s 
H i l e r ' s 
p r o s e c u t i o n 
f o r 
f a l s e l y 
r e p o r t i n g an 
i n c i d e n t . 
F o r 
t h e 
r e a s o n s 
d i s c u s s e d 
b e l o w , 
we 
r e v e r s e 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t 
o f 
t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C r i m i n a l 
A p p e a l s . 
F a c t s and 
P r o c e d u r a l 
H i s t o r y 
The 
e v i d e n c e 
p r e s e n t e d 
a t 
t r i a l 
t e n d s 
t o 
show 
t h e 
f o l l o w i n g . 
On 
May 
25, 
2006, l a w - e n f o r c e m e n t 
o f f i c e r s 
were 
c a l l e d 
t o 
t h e 
r e s i d e n c e 
o f G r e g N o b l e 
and 
M i c h e l l e 
N o b l e . 
H i l e r 
had 
p r e v i o u s l y b e e n m a r r i e d 
t o M i c h e l l e , and 
she 
was 
a l l o w i n g H i l e r t o s t a y a t t h e N o b l e s ' 
r e s i d e n c e so t h a t 
H i l e r 
c o u l d 
v i s i t 
h i s son more f r e q u e n t l y . 
E a r l i e r on t h e m o r n i n g 
o f May 
25, 
200 6, 
H i l e r 
had 
a r r i v e d 
t o w o r k 
l a t e , 
had 
b e e n 
f i r e d , 
and 
h a d 
r e t u r n e d 
t o 
t h e 
N o b l e s ' 
r e s i d e n c e 
u n d e r 
t h e 
i n f l u e n c e o f a l c o h o l . 
M i c h e l l e i n f o r m e d 
H i l e r 
t h a t he 
w o u l d 
h a v e t o move o u t o f t h e r e s i d e n c e ; H i l e r t o l d M i c h e l l e t h a t 
he 
w a n t e d t o " d i e by c o p . " 
H i l e r 
l a t e r t e l e p h o n e d e m e r g e n c y 
911 
t o r e p o r t a d o m e s t i c d i s p u t e . 
M i c h e l l e , who 
was u n a w a r e t h a t 
H i l e r had 
t e l e p h o n e d 
911, 
r e c e i v e d a t e l e p h o n e 
c a l l 
f r o m 
t h e 
911 o p e r a t o r . 
M i c h e l l e i n f o r m e d t h e 911 o p e r a t o r t h a t she 
and 
H i l e r had b e e n a r g u i n g b u t t h a t t h e r e was 
no d o m e s t i c 
d i s p u t e 
2 
1081296 
i n p r o g r e s s . 
M i c h e l l e t h e n t e l e p h o n e d 
F r a n k l i n C o u n t y 
S h e r i f f 
L a r r y P l o t t t o r e q u e s t 
t h a t H i l e r be r e m o v e d f r o m t h e N o b l e s ' 
r e s i d e n c e so t h a t "he c o u l d s l e e p i t 
o f f " a t a 
m o t e l . 
When 
l a w - e n f o r c e m e n t 
o f f i c e r s 
a r r i v e d a t t h e N o b l e s ' 
r e s i d e n c e , 
H i l e r 
w a l k e d 
i n t o 
an 
o u t b u i l d i n g 
l o c a t e d 
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 
100 
m e t e r s 
f r o m 
t h e N o b l e s ' 
r e s i d e n c e 
and 
r e t u r n e d w i t h an o b j e c t t h a t t h e o f f i c e r s 
b e l i e v e d , b a s e d on 
t h e i r 
o b s e r v a t i o n s 
and t r a i n i n g , 
t o be an e x p l o s i v e 
d e v i c e . 
H i l e r 
t o l d 
o f f i c e r s a t t h e s c e n e t h a t t h e o b j e c t was a bomb; 
t h a t " h i s w i f e was t r y i n g t o t a k e h i s 
c h i l d r e n away"; and t h a t 
he 
" d i d n ' t c a r e t o d i e . " 
H i l e r w a l k e d up t h e h i l l t o w a r d t h e 
N o b l e s ' r e s i d e n c e w i t h t h e d e v i c e i n 
h i s 
h a n d ; h o w e v e r , 
H i l e r 
r e t u r n e d t o t h e o u t b u i l d i n g when an o f f i c e r drew h i s weapon, 
p o i n t e d i t 
a t H i l e r , a n d o r d e r e d 
H i l e r t o s t o p . 
L a t e r , 
H i l e r 
came o u t o f t h e o u t b u i l d i n g w i t h t h e d e v i c e 
s t r a p p e d 
a r o u n d 
h i s w a i s t a n d t o l d t h e o f f i c e r s 
t h a t t h e d e v i c e h a d a m e r c u r y 
s w i t c h . 
G r e g and M i c h e l l e t o l d 
o f f i c e r s 
t h a t t h e i t e m 
H i l e r 
had i n h i s 
p o s s e s s i o n was n o t a bomb b u t was a " t i m e 
c a p s u l e " 
H i l e r h a d b e e n m a k i n g w i t h h i s s o n ; n o n e t h e l e s s , 
a 
s p e c i a l -
r e s p o n s e l a w - e n f o r c e m e n t team was n o t i f i e d a n d , a t some p o i n t 
d u r i n g t h e i n c i d e n t , G r e g and M i c h e l l e were e v a c u a t e d f r o m t h e 
3 
1081296 
r e s i d e n c e . 
I n v e s t i g a t o r 
J a s o n 
Holcomb 
o f 
t h e 
F r a n k l i n 
C o u n t y 
S h e r i f f ' s 
D e p a r t m e n t 
n e g o t i a t e d 
w i t h 
H i l e r , 
and 
H i l e r 
e v e n t u a l l y 
a g r e e d t o p u t t h e d e v i c e 
down i f Holcomb 
w o u l d 
l e a v e h i s gun i n h i s v e h i c l e . 
Holcomb p u t h i s gun i n 
h i s 
v e h i c l e and o b t a i n e d a s t u n gun i n s t e a d . 
A f t e r H i l e r 
l a i d t h e 
d e v i c e down and w a l k e d a s h o r t 
d i s t a n c e , Holcomb 
a t t e m p t e d 
u n s u c c e s s f u l l y t o u s e t h e s t u n gun on H i l e r . 
H i l e r t h e n r a n 
i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e d e v i c e ; o f f i c e r s o r d e r e d 
H i l e r t o s t o p 
and, when he d i d 
n o t do s o , t h e o f f i c e r s 
s t a r t e d s h o o t i n g a t 
H i l e r . 
H i l e r s t o p p e d , p u t h i s h a n d s up, and s a i d , 
" I t ' s n o t 
r e a l . " 
A bomb t e c h n i c i a n w i t h t h e F l o r e n c e 
P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t 
and 
an 
e x p l o s i v e 
t e c h n i c i a n 
w i t h 
t h e A l a b a m a 
B u r e a u 
o f 
I n v e s t i g a t i o n 
v e r i f i e d 
t h a t t h e "bomb" was a c t u a l l y a p i p e . 
H i l e r was c o n v i c t e d o f f a l s e l y 
r e p o r t i n g an i n c i d e n t , a 
v i o l a t i o n 
o f § 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 , A l a . Code 1 9 7 5 ; t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
s e n t e n c e d 
H i l e r t o s i x y e a r s ' 
i m p r i s o n m e n t .
1 
H i l e r 
a p p e a l e d 
1 H i l e r was a l s o 
c o n v i c t e d o f m e n a c i n g ; t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
s e n t e n c e d 
h i m 
t o 
s i x months 
i n 
j a i l 
on 
t h e 
m e n a c i n g 
c o n v i c t i o n , t h e s e n t e n c e t o r u n c o n c u r r e n t l y w i t h t h e s i x - y e a r 
s e n t e n c e f o r f a l s e l y 
r e p o r t i n g an i n c i d e n t . 
The C o u r t o f 
C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s a f f i r m e d H i l e r ' s c o n v i c t i o n f o r m e n a c i n g , and 
t h i s C o u r t d e n i e d 
H i l e r ' s p e t i t i o n f o r 
a w r i t o f c e r t i o r a r i as 
t o 
t h a t c o n v i c t i o n . 
4 
1081296 
t o t h e C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s , a r g u i n g 
t h a t h i s c o n d u c t d i d 
n o t 
f a l l 
w i t h i n t h e p u r v i e w o f 
§ 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 , A l a . Code 
1975, 
b e c a u s e , 
he 
c l a i m e d , 
t h e 
e v i d e n c e 
was 
u n d i s p u t e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
o f f i c e r s were e n g a g e d i n a p o l i c e a c t i v i t y when H i l e r made t h e 
a l l e g e d l y 
f a l s e 
r e p o r t , 
t h u s e x e m p t i n g 
h i s 
r e p o r t 
f r o m 
t h e 
o p e r a t i o n 
o f § 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 . 
A t 
a l l r e l e v a n t 
t i m e s , 
§ 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 ( a ) , 
A l a . Code 
1 9 7 5 ,
2 
p r o v i d e d : 
"A p e r s o n c o m m i t s t h e c r i m e o f 
f a l s e l y r e p o r t i n g 
an 
i n c i d e n t 
i f w i t h 
k n o w l e d g e 
t h a t 
t h e 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
r e p o r t e d , 
c o n v e y e d , 
o r 
c i r c u l a t e d i s 
f a l s e , 
he 
o r 
she 
i n i t i a t e s 
o r 
c i r c u l a t e s 
a 
f a l s e 
r e p o r t 
o r 
w a r n i n g 
o f 
an 
a l l e g e d 
o c c u r r e n c e 
o r 
i m p e n d i n g 
o c c u r r e n c e 
o f 
a 
f i r e , 
bomb, 
e x p l o s i o n , 
c r i m e , 
c a t a s t r o p h e , 
o r 
e m e r g e n c y 
u n d e r 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
i n 
w h i c h 
i t 
i s 
l i k e l y 
t o 
c a u s e 
e v a c u a t i o n 
o f 
a 
b u i l d i n g , 
p l a c e 
o f 
a s s e m b l y , 
o r 
t r a n s p o r t a t i o n 
f a c i l i t y , 
o r 
t o 
c a u s e 
p u b l i c 
i n c o n v e n i e n c e 
o r 
a l a r m . " 
The 
Commentary t o § 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 , A l a . Code 1975, 
p r o v i d e s , 
i n 
p e r t i n e n t 
p a r t : 
" A l t h o u g h t h e C r i m i n a l Code d o e s n o t make i n t e n t 
an 
e l e m e n t 
o f 
t h e 
o f f e n s e , 
k n o w l e d g e 
t h a t 
t h e 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
r e p o r t e d , 
c o n v e y e d 
o r 
c i r c u l a t e d 
was 
f a l s e 
i s r e q u i r e d . 
I t 
i s 
a l s o 
n e c e s s a r y 
t h a t 
t h e 
2 The A l a b a m a L e g i s l a t u r e amended § 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 , A l a . Code 
1975, 
e f f e c t i v e A u g u s t 
1, 
2009. 
Those amendments 
a r e 
n o t 
a p p l i c a b l e 
h e r e . 
5 
1081296 
f a l s e 
i n f o r m a t i o n be i n i t i a t e d o r c i r c u l a t e d u n d e r 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
i n w h i c h 
i t i s 
l i k e l y 
t o 
c a u s e 
e v a c u a t i o n 
o f a b u i l d i n g , 
p l a c e 
o f a s s e m b l y , o r 
t r a n s p o r t a t i o n 
f a c i l i t y , 
o r 
t o 
c a u s e 
p u b l i c 
i n c o n v e n i e n c e o r a l a r m . 
"The C r i m i n a l Code s e e k s t o c o v e r i n s t a n c e s i n 
w h i c h a f a l s e r e p o r t i s 
made t o p u b l i c o f f i c i a l s n o t  
e n g a g e d i n p o l i c e o r f i r e 
c o n t r o l 
a c t i v i t i e s , f o r 
i n s t a n c e s , s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , 
a i r l i n e 
o f f i c i a l s , 
o r 
m a n a g e r s 
o f 
p u b l i c 
b u i l d i n g s . 
The 
p r i m a r y 
p u r p o s e o f § 13A-11-11 
i s t o p r o t e c t 
t h e p u b l i c 
a g a i n s t 
i n c o n v e n i e n c e o r a l a r m , a n d n o t t o p r o t e c t  
a g a i n s t 
i n t e r f e r e n c e 
w i t h 
g o v e r n m e n t a l 
o p e r a t i o n s ; 
t h i s i s 
t h e p u r p o s e o f §§ 13A-10-8 a n d 13A-10-9." 
( E m p h a s i s added.) 
The C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s r e v e r s e d t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
j u d g m e n t a n d r e n d e r e d a j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f H i l e r as t o 
t h e 
c o n v i c t i o n f o r f a l s e l y 
r e p o r t i n g an i n c i d e n t . 
The C o u r t o f 
C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e 
Commentary t o § 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 , 
A l a . 
Code 1975, s p e c i f i c a l l y 
s t a t e d t h a t t h e s t a t u t e d i d n o t 
a p p l y t o f a l s e 
r e p o r t s made t o p u b l i c 
o f f i c i a l s e n g a g e d i n 
p o l i c e 
a c t i v i t i e s . 
I n i t s 
o p i n i o n , 
t h e C o u r t o f 
C r i m i n a l 
A p p e a l s 
s t a t e d : 
"The 
Commentary 
t o § 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 , A l a . Code 1975, 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
e x p l a i n s 
t h a t t h e s t a t u t e was 
i n t e n d e d 
t o 
a p p l y t o f a l s e 
r e p o r t s made t o p u b l i c 
o f f i c i a l s 
who were n o t e n g a g e d i n p o l i c e 
a c t i v i t y . 
I t a l s o 
e x p l a i n s 
t h a t t h e p r i m a r y p u r p o s e o f t h e s t a t u t e i s 
t o 
p r o t e c t t h e p u b l i c 
f r o m 
i n c o n v e n i e n c e o r a l a r m 
and 
t h a t t h e p u r p o s e o f §§ 13A-10-8 a n d 13A-10-9, 
A l a . 
Code 1975, i s t o p r o t e c t 
a g a i n s t 
i n t e r f e r e n c e 
6 
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w i t h g o v e r n m e n t a l o p e r a t i o n s . 
The e v i d e n c e i n t h i s 
c a s e 
c l e a r l y 
e s t a b l i s h e d 
t h a t 
any 
f a l s e 
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n 
H i l e r made a b o u t h a v i n g a bomb was 
d i r e c t e d 
t o l a w e n f o r c e m e n t 
o f f i c e r s 
who 
were 
e n g a g e d i n l a w e n f o r c e m e n t 
a c t i v i t i e s . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
b a s e d on t h e p l a i n 
l a n g u a g e o f t h e Commentary t o 
§ 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 , A l a . 
Code 1 9 7 5 , we c o n c l u d e 
t h a t t h e 
s t a t u t e was n o t i n t e n d e d t o a p p l y t o f a c t s 
s u c h as 
t h o s e i n t h i s 
c a s e . " 
H i l e r , 
So. 3d a t 
. 
The 
S t a t e p e t i t i o n e d 
t h i s 
C o u r t f o r c e r t i o r a r i 
r e v i e w , 
and we g r a n t e d t h e w r i t t o c o n s i d e r , as a m a t e r i a l q u e s t i o n o f 
f i r s t 
i m p r e s s i o n , w h e t h e r t h e p l a i n 
l a n g u a g e o f § 13A-11-11 
p r e c l u d e s 
H i l e r ' s 
c o n v i c t i o n 
f o r 
f a l s e l y 
r e p o r t i n g 
an 
i n c i d e n t . 
S t a n d a r d o f R e v i e w 
" ' " T h i s C o u r t 
r e v i e w s p u r e q u e s t i o n s o f l a w i n c r i m i n a l 
c a s e s de n o v o . " ' " 
Ex p a r t e B r o w n , 11 So. 3d 933, 935 ( A l a . 
2008) 
( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e Morrow, 915 So. 2d 539, 541 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 4 ) , q u o t i n g i n t u r n Ex p a r t e K e y , 890 So. 2d 1 0 5 6 , 1059 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 3 ) ) . 
A n a l y s i s 
The 
S t a t e 
c o n t e n d s 
t h a t t h e C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l 
A p p e a l s 
e r r e d i n r e l y i n g on t h e p l a i n l a n g u a g e o f t h e Commentary t o § 
1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 , A l a . Code 1 9 7 5 , r a t h e r t h a n t h e p l a i n l a n g u a g e o f 
7 
1081296 
t h e 
s t a t u t e 
i n 
r e v e r s i n g 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
j u d g m e n t 
and 
r e n d e r i n g 
a j u d g m e n t i n H i l e r ' s f a v o r as t o t h e c o n v i c t i o n f o r 
f a l s e l y r e p o r t i n g an i n c i d e n t . 
The 
S t a t e 
a s s e r t s t h a t § 
13A-
1 1 - 1 1 , 
e n a c t e d 
i n 
1977, 
p r o h i b i t e d 
t h e 
f a l s e 
r e p o r t i n g 
o f 
c e r t a i n 
e m e r g e n c i e s - - s u c h 
as 
an 
e x p l o s i o n 
o r 
a 
f i r e - - m a d e 
u n d e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
t h a t 
a r e 
l i k e l y 
t o c a u s e an 
e v a c u a t i o n , 
p u b l i c 
i n c o n v e n i e n c e , 
o r a l a r m ; s u c h c o n d u c t was 
d e s i g n a t e d 
a m i s d e m e a n o r . 
I n 2000, t h e 
l e g i s l a t u r e , i n A c t No. 
2 0 0 0 - 1 1 3 , 
A l a . 
A c t s 
2000, 
§ 
1, 
amended 
§ 13A-11-11 
t o , among 
o t h e r 
t h i n g s , 
d e s i g n a t e 
t h e 
f a l s e r e p o r t 
o f a bomb o r an 
e x p l o s i v e 
as 
a C l a s s 
C 
f e l o n y . 
As 
n o t e d , 
t h e 
Commentary 
t o 
§ 
13A-11-11 
s t a t e s 
t h a t 
" [ t ] h e C r i m i n a l Code s e e k s t o c o v e r i n s t a n c e s 
i n w h i c h a f a l s e 
r e p o r t 
i s made t o p u b l i c 
o f f i c i a l s 
n o t e n g a g e d i n p o l i c e 
o r 
f i r e c o n t r o l a c t i v i t i e s , f o r i n s t a n c e s , s c h o o l 
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , 
a i r l i n e 
o f f i c i a l s , o r 
m a n a g e r s o f p u b l i c b u i l d i n g s " and 
t h a t 
" [ t ] h e p r i m a r y p u r p o s e o f § 13A-11-11 i s t o p r o t e c t t h e 
p u b l i c 
a g a i n s t 
i n c o n v e n i e n c e 
o r 
a l a r m , 
and 
n o t 
t o 
p r o t e c t 
a g a i n s t 
i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h g o v e r n m e n t a l o p e r a t i o n s ; 
t h i s i s t h e p u r p o s e 
o f 
§§ 13A-10-8 and 
13A-10-9." 
The 
S t a t e 
c o n t e n d s , h o w e v e r , 
t h a t 
no 
a d d i t i o n a l c o m m e n t a r y was 
a d d e d t o 
§ 13A-11-11 when 
8 
1081296 
t h a t 
s t a t u t e was amended i n 2000 t o add t h e f e l o n y 
p r o v i s i o n 
f o r t h e f a l s e r e p o r t i n g o f a bomb. 
A d d i t i o n a l l y , 
t h e 
S t a t e 
a s s e r t s 
t h a t 
§ 13A-10-8, 
w h i c h 
a d d r e s s e s 
r e n d e r i n g 
a 
f a l s e 
a l a r m , 
and 
§ 
13A-10-9, 
w h i c h 
a d d r e s s e s f a l s e r e p o r t i n g t o l a w - e n f o r c e m e n t 
a u t h o r i t i e s , h a v e 
n o t b e e n amended t o i n c l u d e a d d i t i o n a l l a n g u a g e p e r t a i n i n g t o 
t h e 
f a l s e r e p o r t i n g o f a bomb and 
t h a t 
o n l y 
§ 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 , 
as 
amended i n 2000, 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
a d d r e s s e s 
t h e 
o f f e n s e 
o f 
t h e 
f a l s e r e p o r t i n g o f a bomb. F i n a l l y , t h e S t a t e a r g u e s t h a t 
t h e 
p l a i n 
l a n g u a g e 
o f § 13A-11-11 does n o t 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
e x c l u d e 
any p e r s o n o r e n t i t y f r o m p r o s e c u t i o n 
i f t h e r e p o r t o f a bomb 
was made t o l a w e n f o r c e m e n t 
e n g a g e d i n p o l i c e 
a c t i v i t y . 
T h i s C o u r t has n e v e r r e v i e w e d § 13A-11-11 i n e i t h e r i t s 
p r e - 
o r p o s t - 2 0 0 0 
amendment f o r m , and t h e C o u r t o f 
C r i m i n a l 
A p p e a l s has 
r e v i e w e d o n l y 
t h e p r e - 2 0 0 0 amendment v e r s i o n 
o f 
t h e s t a t u t e . 
See A v a n r e n r e n v. C i t y o f H u n t s v i l l e , 597 So. 2d 
239 
( A l a . C r i m . App. 
1 9 9 2 ) . 
I n A v a n r e n r e n , t h e d e f e n d a n t , a c u s t o d i a n 
a t J o h n s o n 
H i g h 
S c h o o l i n H u n t s v i l l e , t e l e p h o n e d a p r i v a t e 
s e c u r i t y company 
t h a t had b e e n h i r e d by t h e H u n t s v i l l e C i t y S c h o o l S y s t e m 
and 
r e p o r t e d t h a t s e v e r a l men armed w i t h k n i v e s were d e a l i n g 
d r u g s 
9 
1081296 
i n 
f r o n t o f J o h n s o n 
H i g h S c h o o l . 
When t h e 
s e c u r i t y - c o m p a n y 
p e r s o n n e l 
a r r i v e d 
a t t h e 
s c h o o l , 
t h e y 
f o u n d 
no 
one 
on 
t h e 
p r e m i s e s b u t t h e d e f e n d a n t . 
The d e f e n d a n t 
t o l d t h e 
s e c u r i t y -
company p e r s o n n e l t h a t 
he 
had 
t e l e p h o n e d them b u t 
t h a t 
he 
a c t u a l l y w a n t e d t o r e p o r t 
a s t o l e n vacuum c l e a n e r ; 
t h a t 
he 
"knew how 
t o g e t r e s u l t s " ; and t h a t he was 
" t i r e d o f 
w a i t i n g 
two o r t h r e e h o u r s f o r t h e s e c u r i t y company p e r s o n n e l t o g e t 
t o 
t h e 
s c h o o l . " 
597 
So. 
2d 
a t 240. 
The 
d e f e n d a n t 
l a t e r 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t 
h i s r e p o r t 
t h a t 
men 
armed w i t h 
k n i v e s were 
d e a l i n g 
d r u g s 
i n f r o n t 
o f t h e s c h o o l was 
t r u e b u t 
t h a t 
t h e 
armed men 
had 
l e f t 
t h e p r e m i s e s b e f o r e t h e 
s e c u r i t y - c o m p a n y 
p e r s o n n e l a r r i v e d . 
The d e f e n d a n t was 
c o n v i c t e d o f i s s u i n g a 
f a l s e r e p o r t u n d e r § 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 ; t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t s e n t e n c e d t h e 
d e f e n d a n t t o 90 d a y s i n j a i l ; 
t h e s e n t e n c e was 
s u s p e n d e d , 
and 
he was 
o r d e r e d t o s e r v e 12 months on p r o b a t i o n . 
The d e f e n d a n t a p p e a l e d t o t h e C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s , 
a r g u i n g t h a t h i s c o n d u c t d i d n o t 
f a l l u n d e r t h e p u r v i e w o f § 
1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 . 
The C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s r e v e r s e d t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t and r e n d e r e d a j u d g m e n t i n t h e 
d e f e n d a n t ' s 
f a v o r , 
s t a t i n g , 
i n p e r t i n e n t 
p a r t : 
" [ S e c t i o n 
1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 , A l a . Code 1975,] 
c l e a r l y 
s t a t e s , 
'under 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n w h i c h i t i s 
l i k e l y 
10 
1081296 
t o 
c a u s e 
... p u b l i c 
i n c o n v e n i e n c e 
o r a l a r m . ' The 
c o m m e n t a r y 
t o t h e above 
s t a t u t e s 
l e n d s 
f u r t h e r 
s u p p o r t 
f o r a p p e l l a n t ' s 
p o s i t i o n . 
T h i s 
s e c t i o n 
' s e e k s t o c o v e r i n s t a n c e s i n 
w h i c h a f a l s e r e p o r t i s 
made t o p u b l i c 
o f f i c i a l s 
n o t e n g a g e d i n p o l i c e o r 
f i r e 
c o n t r o l 
a c t i v i t i e s , 
f o r i n s t a n c e s , 
s c h o o l 
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , 
a i r l i n e 
o f f i c i a l s , 
o r m a n a g e r s o f 
p u b l i c b u i l d i n g s . The p r i m a r y p u r p o s e o f § 13A-11-11 
i s t o p r o t e c t t h e p u b l i c 
a g a i n s t 
i n c o n v e n i e n c e 
o r 
 
a l a r m 
Commentary t o § 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 . 
( E m p h a s i s 
a d d e d ) . 
B e c a u s e u n d e r t h e f a c t s o f t h i s c a s e 
t h e r e 
has 
b e e n no v i o l a t i o n o f t h e s t a t u t e , we 
w i l l n o t 
a d d r e s s 
t h e 
i s s u e 
o f 
w h e t h e r 
t h e 
s t a t u t e 
i s 
u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l b e c a u s e o f v a g u e n e s s . 
" I n 
t h e i n s t a n t 
c a s e , 
i t i s t r u e 
t h a t t h e 
s e c u r i t y company p r o c e e d e d i m m e d i a t e l y t o t h e s c h o o l 
t o 
a p p r e h e n d 
r e p o r t e d 
d r u g 
d e a l e r s . 
However, any 
r e p o r t 
t o them 
m i g h t 
r e s u l t i n t h e i r 
p r o c e e d i n g 
i m m e d i a t e l y t o a l o c a t i o n r e q u i r i n g t h e i r 
s e r v i c e s . 
The 
q u e s t i o n 
h e r e i s w h e t h e r t h e p u b l i c h a s b e e n 
i n c o n v e n i e n c e d . 
The c a l l 
t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t made t o 
t h e 
s e c u r i t y company d i d 
n o t l e a d t o t h e e v a c u a t i o n 
o f a v e h i c l e o r a b u i l d i n g . T h i s 
s t a t u t e 
a d d r e s s e s 
s i t u a t i o n s 
s u c h 
as where 
someone 
i n a 
c r o w d e d 
t h e a t e r 
y e l l s 
' f i r e , ' 
o r where someone 
p u l l s t h e 
f i r e 
a l a r m 
i n an 
o f f i c e 
b u i l d i n g . 
Those 
a r e 
s i t u a t i o n s 
where 
t h e p u b l i c 
a t 
l a r g e 
h a s 
b e e n 
i n c o n v e n i e n c e d . 
From t h e f a c t s o f 
t h i s 
c a s e , 
we 
c a n n o t s a y t h a t t h e p u b l i c was i n c o n v e n i e n c e d 
as a 
r e s u l t 
o f t h e 
a p p e l l a n t ' s 
c o n d u c t . 
We 
do n o t 
c o n s i d e r 
t h a t 
t h i s 
s t a t u t e was i n t e n d e d t o a p p l y t o 
f a c t s s u c h as t h o s e i n t h i s 
c a s e . " 
A v a n r e n r e n , 597 So. 2d a t 240-41 
( f o o t n o t e 
o m i t t e d ) . 
I n t h e p r e s e n t 
c a s e , t h e e s s e n c e o f t h e S t a t e ' s 
a r g u m e n t 
i s 
t h a t t h e C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s e r r e d by a p p l y i n g t h e 
p l a i n l a n g u a g e o f t h e Commentary t o § 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 , r a t h e r 
t h a n 
11 
1081296 
t h e 
p l a i n l a n g u a g e 
o f t h a t 
s t a t u t e , 
i n r e v e r s i n g 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
j u d g m e n t 
as 
t o 
H i l e r ' s 
c o n v i c t i o n 
f o r 
f a l s e l y 
r e p o r t i n g 
an i n c i d e n t . 
We 
a g r e e . 
"The f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e o f s t a t u t o r y 
c o n s t r u c t i o n 
i s t o a s c e r t a i n and g i v e 
e f f e c t t o t h e i n t e n t o f t h e 
l e g i s l a t u r e 
i n e n a c t i n g 
t h e s t a t u t e . Words u s e d i n 
a 
s t a t u t e 
must 
be 
g i v e n 
t h e i r 
n a t u r a l , 
p l a i n , 
o r d i n a r y , 
and commonly u n d e r s t o o d m e a n i n g , and where 
p l a i n l a n g u a g e i s u s e d a c o u r t i s b o u n d t o i n t e r p r e t 
t h a t 
l a n g u a g e t o mean e x a c t l y what i t s a y s . I f t h e  
l a n g u a g e o f t h e s t a t u t e 
i s u n a m b i g u o u s , 
t h e n 
t h e r e  
i s no room f o r j u d i c i a l c o n s t r u c t i o n 
and t h e c l e a r l y  
e x p r e s s e d 
i n t e n t 
o f t h e 
l e g i s l a t u r e must be 
g i v e n 
 
e f f e c t . " 
IMED C o r p . v. S y s t e m s Eng'g A s s o c s . C o r p . , 602 So. 2d 344, 
346 
( A l a . 
1992) 
( c i t i n g 
T u s c a l o o s a 
C o u n t y 
Comm'n 
v. 
D e p u t y 
 
S h e r i f f s ' 
A s s ' n 
o f T u s c a l o o s a C o u n t y , 
589 
So. 
2d 687 ( A l a . 
1991) 
( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) ) . 
S i m p l y 
p u t , 
t h e 
p l a i n 
l a n g u a g e 
o f 
§ 
13A-11-11 
i s 
u n a m b i g u o u s ; 
i t p r o v i d e s no e x c e p t i o n f o r p e r s o n s who 
f a l s e l y 
r e p o r t 
an 
i n c i d e n t 
t o p u b l i c 
o f f i c i a l s 
who 
a r e e n g a g e d 
i n 
p o l i c e o r f i r e - c o n t r o l a c t i v i t i e s . 
A l t h o u g h t h e Commentary t o 
§ 13A-11-11 p u r p o r t s t o c r e a t e s u c h an e x c e p t i o n , 
t h e l a n g u a g e 
o f t h e Commentary does n o t o v e r r i d e 
t h e p l a i n l a n g u a g e o f t h e 
s t a t u t e . 
See 
S h e f f i e l d v. 
S t a t e , 
7 
08 
So. 
2d 8 
99, 
900 
n.2 
( A l a . C r i m . App. 1997) 
("The c o m m e n t a r y does n o t o v e r r i d e 
t h e 
12 
1081296 
f o r m and m e a n i n g o f t h e s t a t u t o r y l a n g u a g e , when v i e w e d i n 
l i g h t o f e s t a b l i s h e d 
p r i n c i p l e s o f s t a t u t o r y 
c o n s t r u c t i o n . " 
( q u o t i n g 
H a w k i n s v. S t a t e , 54 
9 So. 2d 552, 560 ( A l a . C r i m . 
App. 1989) (Bowen, J . , 
c o n c u r r i n g ) , 
c i t i n g i n t u r n 
S u t h e r l a n d 
 
S t a t u t o r y 
C o n s t r u c t i o n § 4 
5 . 0 7 ) ) ; s e e a l s o Ex p a r t e E d w a r d s , 
816 So. 2d 98, 102 n.3 ( A l a . 
2001) ("Our c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e 
c o m m e n t a r y ... i s t e m p e r e d 
b y § 1 - 1 - 1 4 ( b ) , A l a . 
Code 1975, 
w h i c h 
s t a t e s 
t h a t 
' [ a ] l l 
h i s t o r i c a l 
c i t a t i o n s and n o t e s s e t 
o u t i n t h i s 
Code a r e g i v e n 
f o r t h e p u r p o s e 
o f c o n v e n i e n t 
r e f e r e n c e , and do n o t c o n s t i t u t e p a r t o f t h e l a w . ' " ) ; 
C o l e m a n  
v. S t a t e , 565 So. 2d 685, 687 ( A l a . 1 
990) ("'[A] commentary t o 
a s t a t u t e , w h i l e o f some p e r s u a s i v e 
v a l u e , i s 
n o t b i n d i n g upon 
t h e c o u r t s . ' " 
( q u o t i n g H e r n d o n v. S t a t e , 563 So. 2d 1065, 1068 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 0 ) ) ) . 
F u r t h e r m o r e , as n o t e d by t h e S t a t e , h a d t h e l e g i s l a t u r e 
i n t e n d e d t o e x c l u d e f r o m t h e p u r v i e w o f § 13A-11-11 
i n s t a n c e s 
i n w h i c h a f a l s e r e p o r t i s made t o p u b l i c 
o f f i c i a l s who a r e 
e n g a g e d i n p o l i c e o r f i r e - c o n t r o l 
a c t i v i t i e s , i t c o u l d 
h a v e 
i n c l u d e d e x p r e s s l a n g u a g e t o t h a t e f f e c t i n t h e s t a t u t e . 
The 
l e g i s l a t u r e , h o w e v e r , d i d n o t do s o , and t h i s C o u r t may n o t 
r e a d 
i n t o 
t h e 
s t a t u t e 
l a n g u a g e 
t h e 
l e g i s l a t u r e d i d n o t 
13 
1081296 
i n c l u d e . 
See 
C i t y o f P i n s o n v. 
U t i l i t i e s Bd. 
o f O n e o n t a , 
986 
So. 
2d 367, 
373 
( A l a . 2007) 
( " ' I t i s n o t p r o p e r f o r a c o u r t 
t o 
r e a d i n t o t h e 
s t a t u t e s o m e t h i n g w h i c h t h e 
l e g i s l a t u r e d i d 
n o t 
i n c l u d e 
a l t h o u g h 
i t c o u l d 
h a v e 
e a s i l y done 
s o . ' " 
( q u o t i n g 
Noonan v. E a s t - W e s t B e l t l i n e , 
I n c . , 
487 
So. 
2d 237, 
239 
( A l a . 
1 98 6 ) ) ) ; Ware v. 
Timmons, 
954 
So. 
2d 
545, 
556 
( A l a . 
200 6) 
("[W]e p r e s u m e 
' t h a t t h e 
l e g i s l a t u r e does n o t 
i n t e n d 
t o make 
any 
a l t e r a t i o n 
i n 
t h e 
l a w 
b e y o n d 
what 
i t 
e x p l i c i t l y 
d e c l a r e s . ' " 
( q u o t i n g Duncan v. R u d u l p h , 245 
A l a . 175, 
176, 
16 
So. 
2d 
313, 
314 
( 1 9 4 4 ) ) ) . 
I t 
i s e v i d e n t 
f r o m a r e a d i n g 
o f t h e e x c e r p t 
q u o t e d above 
f r o m A v a n r e n r e n t h a t t h e C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s 
c o n s i d e r e d 
b o t h 
t h e 
s t a t u t e , 
§ 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 , 
and 
t h e 
Commentary 
t o 
t h a t 
s t a t u t e i n r e v e r s i n g t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t i n t h a t 
c a s e . 
I n t h e p r e s e n t c a s e , h o w e v e r , t h e C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l 
A p p e a l s , 
f o r 
a l l t h a t a p p e a r s f r o m i t s o p i n i o n , 
r e l i e d 
s o l e l y on 
t h e 
Commentary 
t o 
§ 
13A-11-11 
i n 
r e v e r s i n g 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
j u d g m e n t 
as 
t o 
H i l e r ' s c o n v i c t i o n 
f o r 
f a l s e l y 
r e p o r t i n g 
an 
i n c i d e n t . 
See 
H i l e r , 
So. 
3d a t 
( " T h e r e f o r e , b a s e d 
on 
t h e p l a i n l a n g u a g e o f t h e Commentary t o § 1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 , A l a . Code 
1975, 
we 
c o n c l u d e t h a t 
t h e 
s t a t u t e was 
n o t 
i n t e n d e d 
t o 
a p p l y 
14 
1081296 
t o f a c t s s u c h as t h o s e i n t h i s c a s e . " ) . 
B e c a u s e t h e C o u r t o f 
C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s a p p l i e d t h e p l a i n l a n g u a g e o f t h e Commentary 
t o § 13A-11-11 r a t h e r t h a n t h e p l a i n l a n g u a g e o f t h e s t a t u t e 
i t s e l f i n 
r e a c h i n g i t s d e c i s i o n , we c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e C o u r t o f 
C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s e r r e d i n 
r e v e r s i n g t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t 
and 
r e n d e r i n g a 
j u d g m e n t 
i n f a v o r 
o f 
H i l e r 
as t o t h e 
c o n v i c t i o n f o r 
f a l s e l y r e p o r t i n g an i n c i d e n t . 
See S h e f f i e l d , 
s u p r a . 
C o n c l u s i o n 
F o r t h e a b o v e - s t a t e d 
r e a s o n s , 
i n s o f a r 
as i t r e v e r s e s 
H i l e r ' s 
c o n v i c t i o n 
f o r f a l s e l y 
r e p o r t i n g 
an 
i n c i d e n t a n d 
r e n d e r s a j u d g m e n t f o r H i l e r , t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e C o u r t o f 
C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s i s r e v e r s e d , a n d t h e c a s e i s remanded f o r 
t h a t c o u r t t o a d d r e s s t h e a r g u m e n t s i t d i d n o t a d d r e s s when 
i t 
h e l d t h a t , b a s e d on t h e p l a i n l a n g u a g e o f t h e Commentary t o § 
1 3 A - 1 1 - 1 1 , A l a . 
Code 1 9 7 5 , t h e s t a t u t e was n o t i n t e n d e d t o 
a p p l y t o f a c t s s u c h as t h o s e i n t h i s c a s e . 
So. 3d a t 
n.2. 
REVERSED AND REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS. 
Cobb, C . J . , 
a n d L y o n s , 
W o o d a l l , 
S t u a r t , 
B o l i n , 
P a r k e r , 
M u r d o c k , a n d Shaw, J J . , c o n c u r . 
15