HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Local attorney Randy Allan Hames, 81, on Monday went on trial in federal court in Huntsville on charges of violating the Fair Housing Act by making unwanted sexual advances and demanding sexual favors in lieu of rent payments from 15 female tenants – including at least one minor – in his Smith Lake area Hames Marina and Mobile Home Park.
Hames was arrested in February 2018 and again in March 2018 by the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office on multiple charges of human trafficking, sexual extortion, soliciting prostitution and stalking. Hames was later additionally charged with two more counts of human trafficking for allegedly demanding “sexual conduct in exchange for the said Randy Allan Hames providing favorable testimony or report while the said Randy Allan Hames was appointed as Guardian Ad Litem over the said [victim’s name omitted]’s children in a termination of parental rights action.” The federal charges currently in court were filed in July 2018.
Hames’ local cases were moved out of Cullman County after all local judges recused themselves due to their professional relationships with the attorney.
The government alleged in the federal case that “Randy Hames violated the Fair Housing Act by subjecting female tenants of the mobile homes ‘to discrimination on the basis of sex, including severe, pervasive, and unwelcome sexual harassment’” including:
“a. Demanding that female tenants engage in, or pressuring them to engage in oral sex or other sexual acts with him to obtain or keep rental housing;
“b. Subjecting female tenants to unwelcome sexual contact, including but not limited to hugging female tenants, touching (or attempting to touch) female tenants’ bodies, and rubbing his body against female tenants’ bodies;
“c. Offering to grant tangible housing benefits—such as reducing or excusing rent payments, late payments, or deposit amounts—in exchange for engaging in sexual acts with him;
“d. Making intrusive, unannounced visits to female tenants’ homes for no apparent legitimate purposes and to further his sexual advances;
“e. Menacing female tenants by repeatedly parking for extended periods of time in front of their homes when he had no apparent legitimate reason to do so;
“f. Making unwelcome sexual comments, propositions, and sexual advances to female tenants; and
“g. Taking adverse housing actions, such as evicting or refusing to make repairs, or threatening to take such actions, against female tenants who have objected to his unwelcome sexual advances and/or refused to engage in sexual acts with him.”
According to the original federal complaint, the Government is asking the court for a decision that:
“a. Declares that the Defendants’ discriminatory practices violate the Fair Housing Act, as amended, 42
U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq.;
b. Enjoins the Defendants, their agents, employees, and successors, and all other persons in active
concert or participation with them, from:
i. Discriminating on the basis of sex, including engaging in sexual harassment, in any aspect of the rental of a dwelling;
ii. Interfering with or threatening to take any action against any person engaged in the exercise or enjoyment of rights granted or protected by the Fair Housing Act;
iii. Failing or refusing to take such affirmative steps as may be necessary to restore, as nearly as practicable, the victims of the Defendant’ past unlawful practices to the position they would have been in but for the discriminatory conduct; and
iv. Failing or refusing to take such affirmative steps as may be necessary to prevent the recurrence of any discriminatory conduct in the future and to eliminate, as nearly as practicable, the effects of the Defendants’ unlawful practices;
c. Awards monetary damages to each person aggrieved by the Defendants’ discriminatory conduct under 42 U.S.C. § 3614(d)(1)(B);
d. Assesses civil penalties against the Defendants to vindicate the public interest under 42 U.S.C. § 3614(d)(1)(C); and
e. Awards such additional relief as the interests of justice may require.”
In November 2023, in an agreement signed by the defendant, Alabama Deputy Attorney General Jon L. Kachelman, Alabama Assistant Attorney General Michele Davidson, presiding Shelby County Judge Lara M. Alvis and Hames’ defense attorneys Johnny Berry and Brandon Little, Hames pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment in all four human trafficking cases. All felony and sex-related charges were dismissed, while Hames received a 30-day sentence in the Cullman County Jail on each harassment charge. The sentence was then suspended, and Hames was released on two years’ unsupervised probation and no fine. In the plea agreement, Hames agreed to the permanent surrender of his license to practice law.
Hames’ trial continued Wednesday.
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