DECATUR, Ala. — Former Decatur police officer Mac Marquette, charged with murder in shooting death of Steve Perkins, has entered a plea of "not guilty" and waived his right to an arraignment. This is according to court documents filed on February 9, 2024.
According to Alabama law, in an arraignment, the court makes sure the defendant, in this case Marquette, has been notified of the charges against them, has counsel or has waived counsel, is or is not entitled to youthful offender status, and takes a plea. A trial date may also be set.
Marquette still receives all of these even by waiving arraignment; they are just acknowledged by signature rather than in open court. He also still retains all other rights due to him, including the right to file "any objections, defenses, or motions", that could have been filed before waiving the right to an arraignment or having an arraignment in court.
No trial date has been set.
The murder charge stems from the shooting death of Steve Perkins on September 29, 2023. Marquette was one of the officers who went to the home of Steve Perkins after a tow truck driver attempting to repossess Perkins's car called police, alleging Perkins had threatened him with a gun.
Ring camera footage shows officers on Perkins's property and Steve Perking in the front yard with an object in his hand. An officer yells, "Police, get on the ground," before immediately opening fire.
Three officers, including Marquette, were fired in the aftermath of the shooting and one was suspended without pay, all for violating police procedure.
The officers who were terminated or suspended after an investigation into the shooting death of Decatur resident Steve Perkins have been granted a postponement of their appeals hearings. The city personnel board confirmed Thursday that a joint petition from former officers Vance Summers, Joey Williams, Mac Bailey Marquette, and Chris Mukadam requesting the pause was granted.
"The Personnel Board carefully considered the basis for the request, found it to be reasonable, and agreed to grant the request," reads a statement, though the board did not detail the reason they had been given.
The board's statement also does not specify that any of the officers have proposed a new date for their hearings. The statement continues, "The Personnel Board must be notified in writing by no later than end of day July 24, 2024 of the parties’ intent to pursue the Appeal Process or the Board will consider the matter closed, and the disciplinary actions imposed will continue to remain enforced without further review."
Mac Bailey Marquette was indicted on a charge of murder connected to Steve Perkins' Sept. 29, 2023 shooting death. Court documents indicate Marquette was the only officer in the incident to have fired shots when they responded to a complaint regarding a vehicle being towed at Perkins' residence.
Regular protests have been commonplace within the City of Decatur since Perkins' death, with family members, citizens, and activists lambasting Police Chief Todd Pinion, members of the city council, and Mayor Tab Bowling for perceived slowness regarding the disciplinary action being handed down. Further complaints have surrounded the fact that only Marquette is currently facing criminal charges.
