By Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
District Judge Ben Baxley has ruled there is evidence that Dokata Hollinger, 18, of Millbrook is a potential danger to the public and sexual predator and will be held without bond in Elmore County Jail until his trial on multiple charges. This decision came this morning after an Aniah’s Law hearing between the prosecution with the 19th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and Hollinger’s defense attorney, Brandon Stone.
Hollinger faces three counts of Rape 1st degree and Sodomy 1st degree relating to a victim under the age of 12.
As part of an Aniah’s Law hearing, the prosecution is allowed to use past history, behavior and incidents when it comes to issues that are pertinent.
The prosecution brought up multiple incidents where Hollinger faced accusations of a sexual nature while in school at Stanhope Elmore High School. Those allegations did not result in criminal charges being filed, but rather him being removed from the high school property and put into alternative school.
Hollinger was moved to iCare, which is a specialized version of alternative school for Elmore County students with behavioral issues, among other things. Prosecutors provided documentation from Elmore County Schools that showed while at iCare, more incidents were reported to the school, but did not result in criminal charges. With this new case, Hollinger will not be allowed to return to iCare until this case is adjudicated one way or the other, prosecutors said.
During testimony, a Millbrook detective gave information gathered during an interview with Hollinger after his arrest last week. The detective said that Hollinger admitted to having multiple sexual encounters with the alleged victim dating back to August of last year. He also stated that Hollinger told him he would possibly offend again if given the opportunity with “a female under the age of 17,” the detective stated during testimony.
In arguments, defense attorney Stone said that he found no violence involved with the allegations against Hollinger. Judge Baxley did not agree, saying that the latest allegations involve a child under the age of 12, and much smaller than Hollinger.
The prosecution also argued that within the multiple reports of alleged sexual behavior while on school campus, at least one while in iCare included allegations of force.
Defense Attorney Stone asked the Judge for a reasonable bond, and for Hollinger to be allowed to stay with his grandparents in Millbrook under house arrest until his trial.
The prosecution argued, saying Hollinger has stated he would reoffend if given the opportunity and Hollinger has a significant, documented history of allegations.
In explaining his reasoning for holding Hollinger without bond, Judge Baxley said, “Sex without consent is rape. And a child less than 12 is incapable of consent.” Baxley said there is probable cause to pursue the charges based on evidence presented.
“I am extremely concerned with protecting the safety of the community or any person if (Hollinger) was released. This is apparently his sixth potential victim. That to me qualifies as a sexual predator and I am not going to release him.”
Baxley went on to say, “A person that victimizes a child is the most egregious offense that I can possibly imagine. The defendant was caught in the act. He made an admission.”
Baxley then ordered for Hollinger to be held without bond until trial.
What is Aniah’s Law?
Aniah’s Law is a recent Alabama law named after Aniah Blanchard that was enacted to improve public safety and prevent violent crimes. This law makes it harder for people charged with certain violent crimes to be released on bond before trial.
Aniah’s Law was enacted by the Alabama legislature and signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey in May 2020. It is officially known as Act 2019-518.
This law is named after Aniah Blanchard, a 19-year-old college student who was kidnapped and murdered in Alabama in 2019. The man charged with her murder, Ibraheem Yazeed, was free on bond for kidnapping and attempted murder charges at the time he killed Blanchard.
Aniah’s Law Alabama was created to prevent situations where potentially dangerous defendants are released on bond and able to commit more violent crimes before their trial. It aims to improve public safety by giving judges more discretion to deny bonds to defendants charged with certain violent offenses.
The provisions of Aniah Law Alabama apply to defendants charged with the following violent crimes :
Murder
Kidnapping in the first degree
Rape in the first degree
Sodomy in the first-degree
Sexual torture
Domestic violence in the first-degree
Human trafficking in the first-degree
Burglary in the first degree
Arson in the first-degree
Robbery in the first degree
Terrorism
Aggravated child abuse
