Fentanyl Information

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, all drug overdose deaths in Georgia increased by 61.9 percent from 2019 to 2021. According to the Georgia Attorney General, Chris Carr, Opioids, specifically fentanyl, appear to be driving these increases. From 2019 to 2021, fentanyl-involved overdose deaths increased by 232.1 percent. Stimulant-related overdoses have also been increasing in Georgia.… Read More

COVID-19 Related Scam Alert

Please read and pass this information along to those with family and friends that could be targets of scammers. Scammers are looking to take advantage of victims that can be easily intimidated or vulnerable – such as the elderly. Scammers are impersonating employees with the Department of Justice and using Covid-19 as a reason to try to obtain personal information.… Read More

District Attorney, Bill Doupé, and Assistant District Attorney, Tony Howard, meet with state lawmakers to discuss gang violence prevention

Reported by Renetta DuBose of WJBF

“AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – A committee of state lawmakers and other leaders spent time in Augusta learning ways to help prevent the rising rate of gangs and youth violence.

This work could help the state curb the draw to kids wanting to affiliate with gangs.

House Resolution 585 created the committee to prevent gang and youth violence.… Read More

Ivie to serve life sentence for murder

Reported by Linda Green of The McDuffie Progress

“A McDuffie County Superior Court jury issued a guilty verdict against Brenda Kaye Ivie in the 2012 murder of her husband Ronald A. Willoughby.

Ivie, 63, also known as Kaye Ivie Willoughby, was found guilty of felony murder following a five-day trial that began Sept. 16.  Willoughby, who is a resident of Loganville, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Thomas “Britt” Hammond to life in prison for the Nov.… Read More

Grand Jury indicts Spee-Dee shooters

Reported by Linda Green of The McDuffie Progress

“The shooters and victim in the shooting incident at Spee-Dee Foods last June have been indicted by a McDuffie County Grand Jury for violation of the street gang terrorism act and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

D’Alviune D. Burnett, of Thomson, Aundra D.… Read More

Atkins sentenced to life in shooting death of Brian Parks

Reported by Linda Green of The McDuffie Progress

“A Thomson man has been found guilty of felony murder in the 2016 shooting death of Brian Parks that occurred at a Thomson apartment complex and was sentenced to life plus five years in prison.

On Sept. 19, at 11:27 a.m., a McDuffie County Superior Court Jury returned the guilty verdict against Brian Atkins Jr.,

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Tarver found guilty of malice murder

Reported by Linda Green of The McDuffie Progress

“On Sept. 12, twelve jurors found Ricquavious Tarver guilty in the murder of Roosevelt Demmons.

The jurors deliberated for one hour and 45 minutes and reached the guilty verdict. Superior Court judge Harold Hinesley sentenced Tarver to life plus five years with the possibility for parole. Tarver has to serve a minimum of 30 years in confinement before the possibility of parole….”

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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