A capital murder defendant, who was accused last year of killing Dustin Grimes and kidnapping Grimes’ wife in a Lawrence County home invasion, has recently requested a mental evaluation from the judge. The defendant claims to have suffered from a mental defect at the time of the incident, and the request was granted on Friday.
Jordan Cesar Hernandez, 36, was arrested on November 5th, the day after the reported home invasion. He led multiple law enforcement agencies in a pursuit, which ended with a vehicle crash east of Calvary Assembly of God on Alabama 20. According to the Decatur Police Department, Hernandez fired a gun at the vehicles chasing him.
During the home invasion, it was alleged that Grimes’ wife was kidnapped and later managed to escape while being coerced into withdrawing money from an ATM. This information was revealed during a preliminary hearing last year by a Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office investigator, regarding Auburn Renee Moore of New Hope.
According to testimony, Moore, 36, and Asia Schontelle Hubbard, 27, from Decatur, have been charged with murder, first-degree kidnapping, and first-degree robbery in connection with their alleged involvement in the home invasion. Testimony revealed that Moore had an open-marriage relationship with Grimes and his wife.
On Wednesday, Hernandez’s attorney, Tony Hughes, requested a “mental and/or psychiatric evaluation” in court. The motion states that during the incident or in the days prior, the Defendant was affected by a mental disease and/or defect.
The Defendant allegedly lacked understanding or appreciation of the potential consequences of the criminal conduct against him.
Circuit Judge Callie Waldrep approved the motion on Friday, directing Hernandez to undergo examination by the Alabama Department of Mental Health. Following the assessment, the psychiatrist or psychologist conducting the evaluation will submit a written report to the court.
According to Hughes, the team is actively investigating all possible defenses to counter the allegations against Mr. Hernandez. In an email, he stated, “We are dedicated to thoroughly examining every avenue in this case and this motion is a testament to our commitment.”
In August, Hernandez requested the court to force prosecutors to reveal any agreements, assurances, or incentives given to witnesses or informants.
According to the motion filed by the defense, Alabama law mandates that the State must disclose any evidence of a promise of leniency or benefit made to a witness or someone close to the witness, such as a spouse. The motion was granted by Judge Waldrep.
In August, Hernandez took the initiative to request the court to compel prosecutors to disclose the records pertaining to the grand jury that had indicted him.
In the motion, it is stated that Hernandez plans to contest his indictment on various grounds regarding the fairness of the grand jury proceedings. These grounds include raising concerns about the racial and gender makeup of the grand jury and alleging discrimination in the selection of the grand jury foreperson.
District Attorney Errek Jett responded by stating that no transcript or recording of the grand jury proceedings was made. However, he did provide the defense with the names of the grand jury members.
In a written statement, Jett warned that reaching out to the grand jury members and questioning them about the evidence presentation could potentially violate the laws of Alabama and the Rules of Professional Responsibility.
Hernandez is currently held in the Colbert County Jail without bond. He was moved there from the Lawrence County Jail in July following an alleged assault by two inmates. Interestingly, Mickey Grimes, the father of Grimes, was also an inmate at the Lawrence County Jail when Hernandez’s assault occurred.
On the evening of November 4th, Moore captured the moment of her arrest by the SWAT team of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office through a live stream. She is currently being held in the Lawrence County Jail without any possibility of bond.
Moore’s case was moved to a grand jury in December, as per court records. As of Friday, there is no indictment for Moore in the court system. However, her attorney filed a motion on August 21st to set bond, stating that Moore was indicted during a grand jury session in June.
On August 26, Waldrep denied the motion, stating that bonds for all charges were already set in Moore’s indictment.
In addition to the legal troubles she’s facing in Lee County, Moore is also dealing with criminal charges in Madison County. Back in July, a grand jury in Madison County indicted her on charges of first-degree robbery and first-degree theft. These charges are related to an alleged incident that took place in October 2022. According to the accusations, Moore is said to have stolen a substantial amount of money, along with firearms, prescription medication, and various other items from a man.
Hubbard faced accusations of being involved in Grimes’ death and was arrested on June 18 after a grand jury indictment. According to court records, her bond was set at $130,000, and she was released from jail on June 21. She has entered a plea of not guilty.
According to a custody decree issued by Waldrep, the father of one of Hubbard’s children was granted sole custody of the child in June.
Hubbard declined to cooperate with the Department of Human Resources when they wanted to visit the child. Additionally, there were multiple instances where she failed to show up for drug screens and tested positive for drugs on more than one occasion. Her behavior also became erratic during this time.
According to Waldrep, it is evident that the child’s safety is compromised under her care, and even the paternal families cannot be trusted to supervise visits between her and her children. As a result, Hubbard was only allowed two hours per week of supervised visits at a secure visitation center.
On August 29th, Hubbard took legal action and filed a petition with the court, seeking to hold the father in contempt. She alleges that he has been uncooperative and has refused to work with her in arranging visitation for their child.
