Edward Yancey Faces Federal Charges

On Monday, January 5, 2009, EDWARD SCOTT YANCEY was arrested by FBI agents, pursuant to a federal warrant charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. YANCEY, age 37, was prosecuted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama in 1998 for Possession of Child Pornography. YANCEY, who was a Gulf Shores, Alabama police officer at the time of his arrest, received three years’ probation and was required to register as a sex offender.

On November 14, 2008, YANCEY was arrested by Long Beach Police officers on allegations that he molested a 10-year-old boy. During the course of that investigation, evidence was obtained that YANCEY, a convicted felon, was allegedly in possession of a firearm.

YANCEY made his initial appearance before United States District Magistrate Judge John Roper at 2:30 today. A probable cause and detention hearing will be held January 6, 2009 at 3:30 at the Federal Courthouse in Gulfport. YANCEY will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending that hearing.

The public is reminded that a warrant for arrest contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial, at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.