Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Payoff for jail snitch falls short of hope

A prolific informer wanted less than the seven-year minimum. He got 30 years, but could have gotten life.

By CHRIS TISCH
Published May 25, 2006

LARGO - Andre Talley hoped snitching on other Pinellas County Jail inmates would mean a light prison sentence for stabbing his wife nearly to death in front of their 5-year-old son.

He was wrong.

A judge on Wednesday sentenced the county's most prolific snitch to 30 years in prison.

"I am skeptical of the motive of that participation ... but I guess it has to go in the plus column," said Circuit Judge Phil Federico.

Talley faced seven years to life in prison.

Since his May 2003 arrest for attempted murder, Andre Talley has snitched on nine fellow inmates - seven of them accused murderers. He has been summoned to testify in only one trial but could be called in others.

His attorney, David Parry, suggested Talley deserved less than the minimum sentence.

Prosecutor Bill Loughery told Federico that a 20-year prison term would be more appropriate, especially considering the maximum punishment was a life term.

Federico said he believed Talley's crime was the kind that deserved life. But because he has proved to be such a valuable informant, Federico shrank the sentence to 30 years.

The judge said Talley's attack on his wife was so horrible - particularly the fact that the couple's daughter witnessed it - that he deserved a stiff sentence.

"To have a young child seeing that ... it just boggles the mind," Federico said.

Talley, who told Federico he would accept and respect any punishment, looked stunned when the judge announced the sentence. He said before sentencing that he would assist prosecutors as an informant no matter what the sentence.

His ex-wife, Terri Stevens, and her family and friends cheered and sobbed in the gallery when Federico announced the sentence. They asked the judge not to allow Talley out of prison until both of his children, ages 8 and 3, are adults.

Before the sentencing, Stevens told the judge how she nearly died after the stabbing. She was in a hospital 38 days, much of it in a coma. Her daughter, Alexis, suffered post-traumatic stress syndrome and suffered terrible nightmares after the incident.

Stevens says the child fears her father.

Alexis, now an 8-year-old third-grader, briefly appeared in court for the hearing and looked scared. With barrettes and knockers in her hair, she approached the podium with her hands clutched under her chin.

"When my dad gets out ... he might try to hurt her again," she told the judge in a soft voice.

Talley for years worked as a confidential informant for local police. His defense summoned three Pinellas sheriff's deputies to testify on his behalf. All three, including Capt. Cal Dennie, said Talley was a solid snitch.

"As an informant, he was reliable," said Dennie, a former narcotics detective who is now the agency's diversity officer. "He showed up every time I asked him."

Dennie, who ministers to jail inmates, said Talley also has taken part in some of his prayer groups.

Dennie talked Talley off the Skyway Bridge after the stabbing and persuaded him to turn himself in. Dennie said Talley was remorseful from the start.

Talley also told Federico on Wednesday that he was apologetic. "I am truly sorry for what happened," he said.

Talley and Stevens were a couple about 10 years when the stabbing occurred, though they had married less than a week before. They argued the night of the stabbing.

Stevens wanted Talley to spend more time at home, while Talley wanted to keep running with criminals on the street, according to prosecutors.

Talley chased Stevens outside her Dunedin home with a 6-inch steak knife, then stabbed her six times in the street while their daughter cried and told him to stop. He stopped only because a car happened to turn onto their street.

The defense also called on Talley's behalf a prosecutor and investigator for the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office, who testified about Talley's assistance in several cases.

Talley testified earlier this year in the trial of Timothy Humphrey, accused of manipulating his new young bride into killing for him.

"He didn't ask for anything," said assistant state attorney Fred Schaub, who prosecuted Humphrey. "He fully cooperated."

Schaub said Talley was reliable and helpful in that case, though Humphrey's defense attorney called him Andre "Tell-a-lie."

Talley also snitched on six other inmates accused of murder, one accused of attempted murder and one charged with capital sexual battery. He reported a threat on a prosecutor's life as well.

Defense attorney Parry said Talley is good at getting people to open up to him.

"He's a very good witness," Parry told the judge. "He has a very good knack for getting information from people."

Parry also said Talley helped prosecutors at his own risk. He was attacked or punched by other inmates on several occasions and his safety at the jail is given special attention.

"I can't imagine what it's going to be like in prison," Parry said.

[Last modified May 25, 2006, 06:28:50]