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Man arrested for leaving flowers on fiancee's grave found guilty of littering...

The Tradition

HR King
Apr 23, 2002
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An Alabama man who planted flowers on the gravesite of his fiancee and was arrested at the direction of the woman's disapproving father was found guilty of littering this week.

About a month after Winston "Winchester" Hagans got engaged, his fiancee, Hannah Ford, was killed in a three-car crash in January 2021 that shattered what was supposed to be the happiest time of their lives. To honor the 27-year-old, Hagans placed a planter box full of fresh flowers and photos of the two of them on her grave in Auburn, Ala.

But earlier this year, Hagans was arrested on a charge of criminal littering. City officials had reassured him that he could put the planter at Ford's gravesite unless there was a complaint. Then he discovered that a complaint had been filed - by the Rev. Tom Ford, his fiancee's father.
"The police don't enforce the law unless the owner of the plot tries to do something about it," Hagans told The Washington Post earlier this year, adding that his late fiancee's father did not approve of their relationship.

Hagans was convicted Thursday on one count of criminal littering and ordered to pay about $300 in fines and court costs, the Opelika-Auburn News reported. The 32-year-old man was also given a suspended jail sentence of 30 days that will remain suspended as long as Hagans does not place any more flowers or planter boxes on his fiancee's grave.

After Hagans was found guilty, his attorney, Jeff Tickal, indicated that a written appeal would be filed within 14 days. If Hagans wins the appeal, a new trial would be granted, and the fines and court costs would be dropped.

Neither Hagans nor Tickal immediately responded to requests for comment early Saturday.

 
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An Alabama man who planted flowers on the gravesite of his fiancee and was arrested at the direction of the woman's disapproving father was found guilty of littering this week.

About a month after Winston "Winchester" Hagans got engaged, his fiancee, Hannah Ford, was killed in a three-car crash in January 2021 that shattered what was supposed to be the happiest time of their lives. To honor the 27-year-old, Hagans placed a planter box full of fresh flowers and photos of the two of them on her grave in Auburn, Ala.

But earlier this year, Hagans was arrested on a charge of criminal littering. City officials had reassured him that he could put the planter at Ford's gravesite unless there was a complaint. Then he discovered that a complaint had been filed - by the Rev. Tom Ford, his fiancee's father.
"The police don't enforce the law unless the owner of the plot tries to do something about it," Hagans told The Washington Post earlier this year, adding that his late fiancee's father did not approve of their relationship.

Hagans was convicted Thursday on one count of criminal littering and ordered to pay about $300 in fines and court costs, the Opelika-Auburn News reported. The 32-year-old man was also given a suspended jail sentence of 30 days that will remain suspended as long as Hagans does not place any more flowers or planter boxes on his fiancee's grave.

After Hagans was found guilty, his attorney, Jeff Tickal, indicated that a written appeal would be filed within 14 days. If Hagans wins the appeal, a new trial would be granted, and the fines and court costs would be dropped.

Neither Hagans nor Tickal immediately responded to requests for comment early Saturday.

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10 times he put it there while the city doesn't allow them, especially when a family member complains. I feel bad for his loss, but he got what he deserved with the littering charge.

Shitty story all the way around.
 
10 times he put it there while the city doesn't allow them, especially when a family member complains. I feel bad for his loss, but he got what he deserved with the littering charge.

Shitty story all the way around.
LOL, that's silly even for you. He got what he deserved for mourning his fiancé? It's also a ridiculous waste of resources. I am shocked a DA didn't just chuck the complaint.
 
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What is truly absurd and ridiculous is that police took this case to the DA and that the DA decided to proceed with it and prosecute this person. Then the law crowd wonders why fewer and fewer people have any respect for them.
Small town Alabama. It’s who you are, who your Mama and Daddy are and where you go to church, etc.
Different world.
 
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LOL, that's silly even for you. He got what he deserved for mourning his fiancé? It's also a ridiculous waste of resources. I am shocked a DA didn't just chuck the complaint.
Yeah pretty shitty for the "reverend" to act the way he did, but you're going to go put a new box out 10 times? When the city clearly bans boxes? There are other ways to mourn his fiance without purposely antagonizing her dad that didn't like him.
 
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This is like when Jesus gathered a crowd, miracled fish, and then reported all his worshippers for leaving fish bones everywhere.
 
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This is like when Jesus gathered a crowd, miracled fish, and then reported all the worshippers for leaving fish bones everywhere.
Having left a trail of crumbs from all those loaves they were easy to find. 😉
 
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Small town Alabama. It’s who you are, who your Mama and Daddy are and where you go to church, etc.
Different world.
Separation of church and state is a cornerstone to the foundation of this great nation.
 
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