A Jackson County jury convicted David Franklin Wood Neal of Sodomy First-Degree and Sexual Abuse of a Child Less than 12 Years on August 19, 2026. After approximately 30 minutes of deliberations, a Jackson County jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict against Neal, 63 of Pisgah, following a trial in the Circuit Court of Jackson County.
The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Jason Pierce alongside Assistant District Attorney Taylor Garner. Over the course of the trial, the District Attorney’s Office presented comprehensive evidence and testimony detailing the abuse perpetrated by Neal in a travel trailer in Pisgah in 2022.
The victim in the case, who was 10 years old during the period of abuse, demonstrated exceptional bravery by taking the stand to testify directly to the jury.
“We are profoundly grateful to the members of the jury who listened carefully to the evidence and delivered justice for the victim today,” said District Attorney Pierce after the verdict. “The victim has carried the weight of this trauma for years. Her courage in standing up in a court of law and speaking her truth was nothing short of heroic. Today, the jury sent a clear and unmistakable message that those who prey upon and abuse our most vulnerable children will be held fully accountable under the law. We hope this verdict brings some measure of peace and closure to the victim and her family as they continue to heal.”
The successful prosecution was made possible by the diligent, collaborative efforts of multiple local and state agencies. The District Attorney’s Office extended its deepest appreciation and recognition to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Department of Human Resources, and the Jackson County Children’s Advocacy Center. Following the publication of the verdict, Circuit Judge Brent Benson set the sentencing for September 21, 2026.
Under Alabama law, First-Degree Sodomy is a Class A felony, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Due to the severe nature of the offenses and the defendant’s previous criminal history, the state sought the maximum sentence authorized by law to ensure the permanent protection of the community. During sentencing, the court imposed it.
The victim did not have to take the stand again at sentencing. Instead, Garner read a victim impact statement. The court’s written order states that neither the State nor the defense called witnesses.
Neal was, however, given an opportunity to address the court before his sentence was imposed. During those remarks, Neal attempted to place blame on the victim. Circuit Court Judge Brent Benson stopped him, telling Neal he was entitled to speak on his own behalf but would not be permitted to use that opportunity to attack the child he had been convicted of abusing.
The judge then turned his attention to the courage the victim had demonstrated throughout the case, praising her willingness to come into a courtroom, confront Neal and tell a jury what he had done to her. He contrasted her actions with Neal’s, telling the defendant that the victim had shown more courage because she was willing to face him and tell the jury what happened while Neal had been unwilling to be present to face the jury and hear her testimony.
The sentencing order also reveals the extent of Neal’s prior criminal history. The court found that Neal had 10 prior felony convictions that qualified under Alabama’s Habitual Felony Offender Act. For the sexual abuse of a child under 12 conviction, Neal was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Alabama Department of Corrections and fined $60,000. For the first-degree sodomy conviction, he received life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and another $60,000 fine. The judge ordered the two sentences to run consecutively, meaning one sentence follows the other rather than the sentences being served simultaneously.
The court further ordered Neal to pay a $10,000 crime victim assessment in each case, along with court costs and expenses associated with his court-appointed attorneys.
He must also comply with Alabama’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Neal is not eligible for probation or parole, and his application for probation was denied. He received credit for 41 days already spent in jail. The court also advised him of his right to request a new trial and to appeal his convictions and sentences.
