On Thursday, September 11, 2025, Alabama Judge Samuel Junkin formally recused himself from the case of Timothy Vess Benton, a convicted sex offender facing 48 charges, including human trafficking and sodomy, in an unincorporated area of Fayette County.
In 2019, Benton accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to two counts of sodomy and receiving a 17-year prison sentence. After serving five and a half years, Judge Junkin modified the sentence, placing Benton in a community corrections program, effectively transitioning him to house arrest.
In his recusal order, Junkin expressed concern that Benton could have been paroled without sufficient oversight. He stated that assigning Benton to house arrest was intended to ensure continued monitoring. Junkin acknowledged the emotional toll his decision has taken on Benton’s victims and their families, emphasizing that he stands by his ruling despite the distress it caused.
“I recognize the hurt that my decision has caused the victims and their families,” Junkin wrote. “This was an incredibly traumatic event in their lives, and it is not lost on me the pain that has resulted from these most recent events.” The order further noted that Junkin believes house arrest represents the best available resolution for both Benton and his victims.
Junkin is the third official to step aside from the case. Previously, District Attorney Andy Hamlin recused himself due to a conflict of interest. Additionally, Judge Merrell Nolen withdrew from presiding over a separate case against Benton involving an alleged violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
