Thursday, January 22, 2026

I wonder if Learndis Hamilton had a younger brother.

This story caught my attention only because I once lived in Ozark and years before that lived in Montgomery.  While in Montgomery I knew of a fella in the Federal Prison located on Maxwell AFB who was doing time for running an illegal moonshine distillery in Tennessee. 

What was interesting about this inmate is, that he wasn't guilty.  He pleaded guilty in order to save his guilty brother.  The brother was married and had several children and a wife who was dependent upon him. So in protecting his younger brother's family the oldest went to prison... I would call that the definition of brotherly love.

Somehow the stories below seemed to tie into long ago forgotten memories.  


Over 80 gallons of moonshine seized in Ozark traffic stop

By Ty Storey
Published: Jan. 21, 2026 


DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) - Police in Ozark made a big discovery earlier this month when they seized nearly seven dozen gallons of moonshine during a routine traffic stop.

On January 9, Officer Dylan Griffin pulled over 61-year-old Learndis Hamilton for a traffic violation.

While speaking with Hamilton, Officer Griffin noticed multiple containers in plain sight inside the vehicle, prompting a deeper investigation which uncovered over 81 gallons
 of illegally distilled moonshine.

Mr. Hamilton was traveling through Ozark from Florida, with his final destination not made clear to police, where he would have likely sold the large amount of illegal alcohol.
Ozark Police Officer Dylan Griffin uncovered over 81 gallons of illegally distilled moonshine during a traffic stop on January 9, 2026.(Ozark Criminal Investigations Bureau)

The moonshine possessed by Hamilton is a violation of Alabama law due to the quantity.

Hamilton was arrested as a result of Officer Griffin’s findings, and the investigation was turned over to the Alabama Beverage Control Board.

As of January 21, Mr. Hamilton was not listed as being booked in the Dale County Jail, and no additional details were made available about his charges.
_____________________
MEMORIES 

The Robert Mitchum movie about running illegal alcohol (moonshine) is Thunder Road (1958), a cult classic where Mitchum plays Lucas Doolin, a Korean War vet who drives bootleg liquor in his souped-up Ford, dodging federal agents and rival gangs through the Appalachian mountains, a role he also co-wrote. 
  • Plot: Mitchum's character transports illegal booze from Tennessee to Chicago, facing threats from the mob and government agents, all while trying to protect his younger brother, Robin (played by his real-life son, James Mitchum).
  • Key Elements: The film is known for its gritty realism, high-speed car chases, and the iconic theme song, "The Ballad of Thunder Road," also sung by Mitchum.
  • Legacy: It's considered a definitive film about moonshining culture and influenced later works like The Dukes of Hazzard and Smokey and the Bandit. 

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