Judge gives life sentence to convicted Dale County killer

OZARK, Ala. (WTVY) -It has not been a good week for Mitchell Doster and things may get worse for him in 2021.

On Thursday, Dale County Circuit Judge William Filmore gave Doster a life sentence. A jury had, in February, convicted him of in the 2017 murder of Rickey Dease, found shot in his Ariton home.

“Mr. Doster received the maximum punishment and I know the victims family has waiting a long time to hear that sentence,” Dale County District Attorney Kirke Adams reacted.

Doster will also be tried---possibly next year--- in the March 2019 death of 22-year Orchid Bolin in Barbour County. She was shot multiple times and found dead in a wooded area while Doster, who could receive another life sentence for that crime, was out of jail on bond.

These are not the only times Doster has been charged with murder. In 1999, he also faced that charge but, in an agreement with prosecutors, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a 16-year prison sentence.

In addition to the murder cases, a federal judge this week sentenced Doster, from Jack, Alabama, to 63 months in federal prison for possession of an explosive device.

Adams said he will serve his federal sentence before being sent to Alabama’s prison system to serve his life sentence and punishment he will receive if convicted of Ms. Bolin’s murder.

Doster’s co-defendant in Dease’s murder, Celeste Conroy, will be tried for murder in February 2021.