LACEY’S SPRING, Ala. (WAFF) – A JROTC fundraiser in Morgan County is facing scrutiny this week because it will be held on land belonging to a registered sex offender.
Austin Hutchen is hosting the hay ride fundraiser on his father’s land. Hutchen says the money raised will support the Lacey’s Spring Volunteer Fire Department and his high school JROTC program.
“I just thought in my head it’d be nice if I just surprised them with a little bit of money,” Hutchens said. “I went and did the hayride, I raised maybe $240 from it.”
Members of the community voiced concerns because the event is being held on property owned by Austin’s father, who is a registered sex offender. Austin says he’s not concerned about the optics.
“I think mostly people are looking for an issue,” Hutchen said. “I mean, everybody on this road and in this community knows my dad and knows that he is not like that.”
He says the only concern he has are people getting injured on the hayride, which is why his mother is involved.
“My thoughts are that my life shouldn’t be compelled from my father’s past and that’s just how I feel,” Hutchen said. “I don’t see why people had concerns about it. I was driving the hayride, he didn’t have anything to do with it.”
Hutchen says he plans to hosts another fundraiser next week when his father is out on town.
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