The January 2021 term of Emanuel County Grand Jury convened Monday, Jan. 25, 2021 with the Honorable Judge Robert S. Reeves presiding. Robert “Danny” Palmer served as foreperson; Harvey Washington, assistant foreperson; and Jamyra Brown, clerk. Judge Reeves appointed John Allen Bailey as bailiff and swore in Bailey, as well as the grand jurors. The grand jurors also appointed Wendell Walden and reappointed James Seaborn Roberts, Charles “Chuck” Clarkson and Henry Wheeler to serve on the Board of Tax Equalization (term: 1/1/21-12/31/23).
During the two-day period, the District Attorney’s office presented 65 bills of indictment to the Grand Jury, and all returned as true bills. The bills were opened and read by Superior Court Judge Tommy Smith on Wednesday in Superior Court.
True bills returned are as follows:
Amber Nicole Stapleton and Jarrett Owens Ware – one count possession of methamphetamine and one count possession of a drug-related object.
Tracy Cooper Tanner – one count burglary in the second degree and two counts entering an automobile.
Dewayne Anthony McKinney – two counts aggravated assault (family violence).
Billy Jack Brantley – two counts forgery in the first degree and one count false report of a crime.
Amanda Rae Wilson – one count criminal attempt to commit a felony (enticing a child for indecent purposes), one count sexual battery, and one count public indecency.
Anthony Deshawn Randall – one count aggravated assault (family violence) and two counts cruelty to a child in the third degree.
James Allen Rick and Christopher Richardson – three counts entering an automobile (Rich), one count theft by taking (Rich), four counts entering an automobile (Rich and Richardson), and one count theft by taking (Rich and Richardson).
Johnathan Allen Lamb and Shanna Marie Stevens – one count sale of methamphetamine.
Crystal Lynn Akridge a/k/a Crystal Akridge Lane and Melissa Susan Librizzi – one count possession of methamphetamine, one count possession of Suboxone (Akridge/Lane), one count crossing guard line with contraband (Akridge/Lane), one count possession of drug-related objects (Librizzi), one count giving false information to a law enforcement officer (Librizzi), one count suspended license (Librizzi), and one count tag light violation (Librizzi).
Christopher Sanchez Parker – one count theft by shoplifting and one count obstruction of an officer.
William Eric Michael Goddard – one count possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, one count manufacture of marijuana, and one count possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Dennis Lee Joyner – five counts sale of methamphetamine.
Dennis Lee Joyner – one count burglary in the first degree and one count theft by taking.
Darrian James Worthen – one count interference with government property, one count obstruction of an officer, one count suspended license, and one count unregistered vehicle.
William Jammal Givens – one count possession of cocaine, one count possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and one count possession of marijuana (less than one ounce).
Derra Lynn Fordham and Joshua Walker Purvis – one count possession of methamphetamine (Fordham and Purvis), one count seat belt violation (Fordham), two counts giving false information to a law enforcement officer (Purvis), one count distracted driving (Purvis), one count suspended license (Purvis), and one count seat belt violation (Purvis).
Aldous Jamal Fletcher and Clinton Wayne Scarboro – one count fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer (Fletcher), one count possession of cocaine (Fletcher and Scarboro), one count possession of amphetamine (Scarboro), one count possession of marijuana (less than one ounce) (Fletcher and Scarboro), one count obstruction of an officer (Fletcher), one count suspended license (Fletcher), and one count open container violation (Fletcher).
Makayla Shamara Thomas – one count burglary in the first degree, one count theft by taking, and one count criminal trespass.
Amanda Virginia Harden a/k/a Amanda Virginia Mangham and Jerry Tolly Wilkerson Jr. – one count possession of methamphetamine (both defendants), one count possession of a schedule IV controlled substance (Benzodiazepine), (Harden/Mangham), one count tampering with evidence (Harden/Mangham), one count habitual violator (Wilkerson), one count DUI (Drugs) (Wilkerson), and possession of a drug-related object (both defendants).
Justin Ryan Coleman – one count fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, one count possession of methamphetamine, one count no proof of insurance, and one count no tag.
Ashley Michelle Jones and Jeffery Wayne Waters – one count possession of methamphetamine (Jones and Waters), one count driving without a license (Waters), and one count tag light violation (Waters).
Ricky Lane Fitch – one count aggravated assault and one count criminal attempt to commit a felony (aggravated sodomy).
William Jammal Givens and Dannitia Rha’Shae Ricks – one count possession of hydrocodone with intent to distribute (Ricks), one count possession of Alprazolam with intent to distribute (Ricks), one count possession of Carisoprodol (Ricks), one count possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (Ricks), one count theft by receiving stolen property (Givens and Ricks), one count possession of drug-related objects (Ricks), and one count disorderly conduct (Givens and Ricks).
Quinton Tywaun Pearson – one count possession of cocaine, one count possession of marijuana (less than one ounce), one count simple battery (family violence), one count criminal trespass, and one count possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Jamey Heath Dupree – one count possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, one count theft by shoplifting, and one count possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Douglas Gerod Franklin Jr. – one count possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, one count tag light violation, and one count failure to carry license.
Shamaya Kaboya Watson – one count aggravated battery, one count aggravated assault, and one count battery.
Kevon Marquavis Carswell and Nicolas Silva – one count armed robbery, one count possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, one count armed robbery, and one count possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Joshua D. Garnto – three counts entering an automobile and one count criminal damage to property in the second degree.
Jequazzie Racquell Greene – one count aggravated assault, one count kidnapping, and one count terroristic threats.
Jamal Brashad Hakwins – one count robbery.
Brian Tremaine Bacon – one count armed robbery, one count kidnapping, one count aggravated assault, one count theft by taking, and one count false imprisonment.
David Battle – one count forgery in the third degree.
Tiffany Latosha Daniels – one count aggravated battery (family violence).
Monica Monique Brown – one count aggravated assault.
Michael Frank Avery II – one count theft by shoplifting.
Dorthea Mahala Bell – two counts aggravated assault.
Zydraous Keevaris Holloway and Dessie Marie Lovett – one count forgery in the first degree.
Phillip Emanuel Carswell and Andre Williams – one count aggravated assault and one count possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Edward Channing Eskew – one count possession of cocaine and one count possession of marijuana (less than one ounce).
Paul Harley Lariscey – one count criminal damage to property in the second degree.
Corenthius Damal Lekeith Wilcher – one count theft by taking, one count obstruction of an officer, one count giving false information to a law enforcement officer, one count suspended license, and one count improper headlights.
Trimiko Tremayne Lester – one count entering an automobile, one count criminal attempt to commit a felony (entering an automobile), one count fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and one count obstruction of an officer.
Frederick Phil Anthony – one count interference with government property, one count fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, one count suspended license, one count obstruction of an officer, and one count stop sign violation.
Brett Lee Wright – one count attempted removal of weapon from public official and one count giving false information to a law enforcement officer.
Tyrone Phillips – one count possession of cocaine, one count possession of marijuana (less than one ounce), and one count criminal trespass.
Jeffery Jerome Washington – one count sale of cocaine.
Adam Vertis Mills – two counts arson of lands in the third degree.
George Ward Jr. – two counts homicide by vehicle in the first degree, one count hit and run, one count driving under the influence (alcohol and drugs), and one count stop sign violation.
Wretrick Arcelious Clark – one count aggravated assault (family violence), one count cruelty to a child in the third degree, and one count obstruction of an officer.
Darrell Demond Johnson – one count possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, one count possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, one count possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and one count possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Marcus Tyler Kirby – one count possession of methamphetamine.
Gregory Allen Kirby and Marcus Tyler Kirby – one count burglary in the first degree and one count theft by taking.
Calvin Eugene Prigeon – one count aggravated assault.
Lonnie Davis Jr. – one count failure to register as a sex offender.
Darrian James Worthen – one count burglary in the first degree and one count aggravated assault.
Fredrick Lee Sherrod – one count aggravated assault and one count criminal damage to property in the second degree.
Darryl Antonio McKinney – one count fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.
Myronie Shemir Jackson – one count fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and one count speeding.
Charles Smith – one count possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count possession of cocaine, one count possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, one count possession of marijuana (less than one ounce), one count possession of a drug-related object, and one count possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Wayne Braddy Sumner Jr. – one count attempt to violate the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, one count possession of methamphetamine, and one count possession of a drug-related object.
Amy Lauree Morris Whitaker – one count attempt to violate the Georgia Controlled Substances Act.
Odis Rushing Jr. – one count possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, one count possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and one count obstruction of an officer.
According to District Attorney Tripp Fitzner, there is a major backlog in getting cases presented to the Grand Jury.
“With this being the first time the Grand Jury has met in almost a year, there is a major backlog. We are going to push cases through the system as fast as we can, without obviously sacrificing any quality in terms of investigative work. I have made it a priority to move some of this backlog that has accumulated due to COVID,” said Fitzner. “I understand victims are waiting on closure, and we are doing everything we can. All nine of our attorneys throughout the district will be trying cases. We will be bringing the Grand Jury back in March to continue with the cases that have not been presented.”
Although the district attorney’s office is getting cases pushed through the Grand Jury, there is no date set to begin trials. The Supreme Court determines when court can be held, and their decision is on a month-by-month basis.
“The next calendar call is going to be very, very big because of what was already on the calendar, plus the 65 true bills returned Wednesday and read in Superior Court by Judge Tommy Smith,” stated Fitzner.
Fitzner encourages the public to contact his office if they have questions regarding a case.
“I see social media posts quite often saying ‘that sentence was too harsh or that sentence was too weak.’ Generally, those people are acting on limited information. If you have questions regarding a case, you are urged to pick up the phone and call the office,” stated Fitzner. The office is located at 101 North Main Street, Swainsboro. The phone number is (478)237-7846.
District Attorney Fitzner has also started a faith-based program called Community Faith and Leadership and is open to all denominations. The first meeting was held in Toombs County at Harvest Time Church and hosted by Tina Hill, who works with the district attorney’s office as a victim advocate. She is also pastor of the church. The idea of the program is to get people of faith around the circuit together to discuss issues going on. Through this program, his goal is to begin an Early Intervention Program. The program is designed to try to help individuals who have made bad decisions and need to stop looking to the streets for the answers. With this program, they can find that value in a church. A list of criteria to be eligible is on his website, www.middleda.org.
“To be successful in the program, you have to want to do it. It is not meant to be easy. If they don’t want to change, I don’t want them to be successful,” said Fitzner.
