BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
As accused murderer Clifton Potts, of Tallassee, stood before District Judge Glenn Goggans in Elmore County this morning for his first appearance, details regarding the death of his wife March 4, came to light.
The victim was identified as Britney Potts, 36, of Tallassee.
“This wasn’t just a murder, it was an execution,” Chief Assistant District Attorney C.J. Robinson said.
As Judge Goggans spoke with the accused, making sure Potts understood the charge against him, Potts offered, “It was crime of passion.”
Goggans responded, “We are not here today to try this case. You are presumed innocent until proven guilty,” urging Potts to hire an attorney. If Potts cannot afford an attorney, one will be made available.
On the issue of bond, Potts’ amount was raised to $2 million cash only. This came after information shared from Chief Assistant District Attorney CJ Robinson, who spoke of Potts’ extensive criminal record dating back 25 years. Among crimes he has served time for are five prior felony convictions, but this is the first charge of murder.
Elmore, Macon, Tallapoosa and Jefferson counties are where the prior felony cases were adjudicated. There are also six prior misdemeanor convictions. He served multiple sentences in the Department of Corrections.
The felonies include an Assault 2nd degree on a Tallassee officer, Domestic Violence 1st degree, Intimidating a witness, and drug distribution charges.
In 2018 he was found guilty of distribution and sentenced to approximately four years in an Atmore facility. It is that charge for which he served his time and had just been released less than 48 hours prior to allegedly murdering his wife.
In this most recent charge, Robinson said Potts used a .40 caliber handgun firing at his wife three times. The first shot hit the victim in the face. A second shot hit a building at HanilUSA, and the third was what Robinson said was to the head and described as “the kill shot.”
Robinson said that none of the accusations against Potts are conjecture or speculation. He said a surveillance video from the company has the murder on tape. Potts did not deny the claim, and said he didn’t deserve to be out.
Robinson said that after the murder, Clifton Pots left the scene in his wife’s vehicle. He was involved in a pursuit, that ended in the parking lot of a Phenix City hotel a short time later. He spent several days in custody there, before being booked into the Elmore County Jail Monday.
Potts did ask the judge to consider that he has not committed a violent crime in 20 years. He also said, “I got kids, I am married, and I was a football coach.”
To that Judge Goggans said that he was more concerned about the murder charge, and that was why they were in court.
After court, Robinson said he has not taken the possibility of presenting a capital murder case to a grand jury in the future, which if successful, could mean the death penalty could be on the table. “We are going to look at that,” he said. “We have a lot more information to consider.”
“(The victim) never made it inside the building. The encounter was in the parking lot. She was trying to (get into the building),” Robinson said. “We will clearly talk about motive at the preliminary hearing.”
Robinson said he believes the $2 million cash bond should keep Potts in jail until a potential trial.
“Because the one thing we know is that when he gets out of jail, he gets into trouble,” Robinson said. “And this time, it was a murder.”
