CULLMAN – Jay Maynor, 43, of Cullman pleaded guilty today in Cullman County Circuit Court to murder and attempted murder, charges stemming from the June 2014 murder of Raymond Earl Brooks, 59, of Berlin and from Maynor opening fire into the Berlin Quick Stop at 3661 U.S. Highway 278 East.
Cullman County District Attorney C. Wilson Blaylock confirmed that Maynor was sentenced to 40 years for the murder and 20 years for attempted murder.
Brooks was a registered sex offender; Court documents indicate Maynor is a relative of the child Brooks pleaded guilty to sexually abusing in 2002. Brooks was convicted in an incident involving an 8-year-old girl.
The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) initially responded to a call regarding gunfire at the Berlin Quick Stop. Then-Sheriff Mike Rainey said the first shooting at the convenience store happened shortly after 7 p.m. Witnesses told deputies a man drove up on a motorcycle and fired shots at the store's window, Rainey said.
"After the would-be victim was able to elude the shooter, the suspect then drove off and went to the residence of Raymond Earl Brooks," Sheriff Rainey said at the time.
Brooks was shot at his home in the 4300 block of U.S. Highway 278 East.
A state trooper who responded to the scene saw Maynor pull out onto the road from Brooks' home and took him into custody, according to the CCSO.
Brooks was convicted of first-degree sex abuse of an 8-year-old girl in August 2002 and had been a registered sex offender since then.
On the night of the incident, Maynor was booked into the Cullman County Detention Center (CCDC) for one count of murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of shooting into an occupied dwelling.
Maynor has remained in the CCDC since the time of the arrest in 2014. Judge Gregory Nicholas gave Maynor credit for the time he has already served.
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