McDuffie County Grand Jury indicts 25 on various crimes

A Thomson woman who was faulted for the death of another local woman following a 2016 head-on collision was indicted by a McDuffie County grand jury Dec. 12.

Lillie M. Curry, 65, of Thomson, was among the 25 indicted by the jury during its recent session. She was indicted for homicide by vehicle in the second degree and failure to maintain lane following the May 14, 2016, crash in the 1800 block of Washington Road in Thomson that killed Towanna Hicks, 41, of Thomson.… Read More

Arriola pleads guilty to felony sexual battery

A man who received a mistrial from a hung jury in November pleaded guilty today to felony sexual battery against a child under 16 years of age.

Jeremiah J. Arriola, 32, pleaded guilty Dec. 28 to the lesser included offense of child molestation. Superior Court Judge Harold Hinesley sentenced him to five years, with three in confinement and two probation plus adherence to sex offender conditions.… Read More

Prosecutors Attend Child Abuse Training

Assistant District Attorneys Seterria Brodnex, left, and Kevin Majeska, right, with Glascock County Sheriff Jeremy Kelley at the 2017 Crimes Against Children Conference

On December 4-6, 2017, Assistant District Attorneys Kevin Majeska and Seterria Brodnex attended training on the investigation and prosecution of crimes against children.    Law enforcement officers, including Glascock County Sheriff Jeremy Kelley, also attended the course.

The training was hosted by the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia.  Topics covered included forensic interviews, the use of medical evidence in child abuse cases, and strategies for combatting human trafficking.… Read More

Child Advocacy Center Officially Opens

Community members celebrate the opening of the Child Advocacy Center in Thomson

The Thomson Office of the Child Advocacy Center officially opened its doors with a ribbon cutting ceremony on December 1, 2017.  Operated by Child Enrichment, Inc., the non-profit center provides forensic interviews, therapy, and advocacy for abused children in the Toombs Judicial Circuit.

Click HERE to see more photos from the event.

 … Read More

Years-long gang investigations result in tough sentences for five violators

Local Bloods gang leader Christopher Sims pleaded guilty to multiple charges including violations of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act (SGTPA) stemming from gang motivated criminal offenses beginning with a night club shooting at the Lucky Day Café on January 1, 2016.

He also pleaded guilty to gang charges involving conspiracy to harm witnesses to that shooting and drug smuggling crimes all while an inmate at the Wilkes County Jail.… Read More

Child Advocacy Center opens in Thomson

District Attorney Bill Doupé with director Kari Viola-Brooke, left, and Investigator Jimmy Talkington, right, in the interview room of the newly opened Child Advocacy Center in Thomson

An Augusta center dedicated to being an advocate for children who have experienced abuse and neglect has opened an office in Thomson.

Child Enrichment Inc.’s Child Advocacy Center (CAC) has established an office at 123 Nassau Place (in the Knox Shopping Center) to assist the Toombs Judicial Circuit in helping victimized children heal and help law enforcement and the prosecution build stronger cases.Read More

Dixon and Brodnex sworn in to new positions with D.A.’s Office

Senior Assistant District Attorney Deshala Dixon and Seterria Brod­nex, a prosecutor in Juvenile Court were sworn in for their new posi­tions by McDuffie County Probate Judge Valerie Burley last week and have already begun their work with the Toombs Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office led by District At­torney Bill Doupe.

Dixon has been an Assistant District Attorney for over a dozen years and has spent her career pros­ecuting some of Georgia’s toughest criminals.Read More

Trial begins in Mitchell Road murders

The three people charged with the murder of a man and woman on Mitchell Road in Warren County are on trial this week in Warren County Superior Court.

Jermanique Vashon Franklin, 26, Donovan R. Fitts, 23, and Deaundre Ross, 24, are facing a jury for the shooting murder of Tenecia Posley, 27, and Barry Johnson, 47, on March 4, 2015, at the home of Damian Calvin at 1637 Mitchell Road.Read More

Two convicted of multiple counts of murder

Monday afternoon a Warren County jury returned guilty verdicts against two defendants charged with murder in connection with the deaths of Tenecia Posley and Barry Johnson, who were found dead at a Mitchell Road home March 4, 2015.

Donovan Fitts, of Thomson, was found guilty on two counts of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of burglary in the first degree, false imprisonment, armed robbery, home invasion, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and two counts of aggravated assault.Read More