The April 2023 term of the Emanuel County Grand Jury convened Friday, June 9. Jessica Peebles served as foreperson, Brian Mitchell served as assistant foreperson, and Meyoshi Worthen served as clerk. John Allen Bailey served as bailiff.
The grand jury considered 28 bills of indictment, submitted to it by the office of the District Attorney, returning 26 true bills and 2 no bills.
True bills included:
Balik Tynerious Johnson: Fleeing or attempting to elude police officer; Theft by receiving stolen property; Driving under the influence (less safe) (drugs); Driving without a license; Open container
Jarel Rotema Brown: Fleeing or attempting to elude police officer; Driving while license suspended; Possession of marijuana, less than an ounce; Speeding
Lynn Edward Jones: Driving while license suspended
Aaron Joshua Anderson: Terroristic threats
John Fitzgerald Gibbons: Malice murder; Felony murder; Voluntary manslaughter; Involuntary manslaughter; Aggravated assault; Armed robbery; Hijacking a motor vehicle; Possession of firearm by convicted felon
Newell James Peters: Aggravated stalking
Buddy Wayne Murphy: Fleeing or attempting to elude police officer; Driving while license suspended; Expired tag
Harrison Donte Sherrod: Terroristic threats; Obstruction of an officer; Theft by shoplifting; Possession of marijuana, less than an ounce
Robert Richard Hatten: Trafficking meth or amphetamine; Illegal use of communication facility; Trafficking meth or amphetamine; Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
Ollie Teresa Mae Hatten: Trafficking meth or amphetamine; Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
Robert James Bly: Theft by receiving stolen property; Possession of a schedule II controlled substance
Caleb Aaron Akridge: Aggravated assault; Terroristic threats
John Trevor Neikirk: Fleeing or attempting to elude police officer (felony); Obstruction of an officer (felony); Hit and run (misd)
Heather Lee Harris and Phillipe Aaron Riner: Theft by taking (both)
Caleb Aaron Akridge: Theft by receiving stolen property; Theft by taking
Horace Henry Weathersby IV: Armed robbery
Eric Bernard Greene Jr: Terroristic threats; Criminal use of an article with an altered ID mark; Pointing gun or pistol at another; Possession of firearm during commission of a felony
Shannon Lorenzo Allen: Aggravated child molestation; Child molestation
Joel Isaac Walker: Aggravated child molestation
Randy Michael Tharpe: Theft by taking; Possession of tools for the commission of crime
James Edward Tharpe: Theft by taking; Driving without a license
Joshua Scott Tharpe: Theft by taking
Russell Cling Givens Jr. and Taylor Sue Winegard: Trafficking meth or amphetamine
Rebecca Sue Wilkerson: Possession of meth with intent to distribute
Joshua Ryan Burris: Possession of meth with intent to distribute
No true bills included:
Jamie Obryant Walker: Aggravated assault (felony); Possession of firearm by convicted felon (felony)
David Charles Portalatin: Aggravated stalking
