Great Job Public Safety!

Bainbridge 'career offender' gets 14 years in federal prison

ALBANY, GA (WALB) -

A Bainbridge man who was labeled a 'career offender' by the U. S. Attorney will spend the next 14 years in federal prison, after he was sentenced in Albany Federal Court Thursday by Judge W. Louis Sands.

Keith Gaines, 43, of Bainbridge, got 176 months for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, after pleading guilty last December.

Charles E. Peeler, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia said that in 2016, Bainbridge police saw Gaines trying to hide, while wearing camouflage described as a 'Ghillie suit' near some warehouses in Bainbridge. He ran to a wooded area, and dropped a package on the ground as police came up. It turned out to be cocaine, and officers found more cocaine in his wallet.

In jail, he made a phone call and described burying a package near a tree in the Bainbridge area. Police went there and found crack cocaine, which they confiscated.

"Mr. Gaines was designated a career offender based on at least five prior cocaine convictions," said United States Attorney Peeler. "He has made a career of almost 25 years of peddling this poison on the streets of our communities. We hope that this sentence will not only end that career for Mr. Gaines but deter others who might consider following the same path."

This case was investigated by the Bainbridge Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Leah E. McEwen prosecuted the case for the United States.

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MITCHELL COUNTY KILLER'S CONVICTION UPHELD BY SUPREME COURT

Supreme Court affirmed Mitchell County murder conviction
Wednesday, February 7th 2018, 10:41 pm EST
Thursday, February 8th 2018, 12:06 am EST
By Jim Wallace
 
MITCHELL CO., GA (WALB) -
The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the murder conviction of a Mitchell County man, denying his appeal for a new trial.

The Supreme Court this week denied appeals by Samuel Stork, 25. Stork was convicted of murdering Rodney Pate in Mitchell County in February 2014. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In his appeal, Stork claimed that the evidence was insufficient and his trial lawyer was ineffective.

In a statement, District Attorney Joe Mulholland said  "This was an utterly senseless killing. The defendant was angry over a silly relationship between his girlfriend and another male."

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February 16th, 2018

Decatur County Man Convicted in 2016 Murder Case

By Dustin Dowdy | February 16, 2018 

PRESS RELEASE

This press release is in regards to the Trial and Investigation of Demarcus Glenn.

On April 29, 2016, Quentieria Knight was found shot to death in her car on Zorn Road, Bainbridge, Decatur County.  The Decatur County Sheriff’s Office and the GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation) conducted an extensive investigation and developed Demarcus Glenn, a fellow employee at Elberta Crate, as a suspect. Glenn and Knight left work at Elberta Crate at approximately 11:30 P.M., April 28th, 2016 together.  The GBI was able to gather surveillance videos and GPS coordinates of the route the two took, with no stops, to the final resting place on Zorn Road with no stops.  Glenn was seen minutes thereafter on surveillance entering the store nearby, Mr. Pips.  A search warrant of his residence discovered the firearm involved, which was matched to ballistics at the scene of the crime.  Additionally, the firearm was linked to a previous homicide where Marcus Bell was killed.  Glenn purchased the firearm in 2014.

Glenn was indicted and tried for Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony.  Joe Mulholland, District Attorney for the South Georgia Circuit, tried the case for the State.  Guy Terry, Attorney from Valdosta, tried the case for the defense.  After a three day trial, the jury convicted Glenn on all counts.  Judge Heather H. Lanier heard arguments in aggravation of sentencing.  Mulholland argued that Glenn was a cold-blooded killer, incapable of rehabilitation.  Mulholland asked the Court to sentence Glenn to Life without the Possibility of Parole.  Judge Lanier agreed, and sentenced the defendant to Life without the Possibility of Parole plus 5 years consecutive on the gun charge.

Joe Mulholland had the following to say:

“As District Attorney for the past fourteen (14) years in the South Georgia Circuit, I have rarely seen such a heartless, unforgiving defendant.  Demarcus Glenn is going to spend the rest of his natural life behind bars where he belongs.  I hope other criminals see this and realize that we will keep our community safe, and send violent criminals to prison for as long as the law allows.  I am glad that Ms. Barbara Knight and all of the friends and family of Quentieria Knight will know that her killer will never see the light of day.  I want to thank first the jury for their service.  I also want to thank the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office, Public Safety, and GBI for their hard work in this case.  GBI Special Agent Hank Day of Bainbridge made my job easy.  Considering this was his first major case, I feel confident he has a bright future in law enforcement.” 

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Sexual Predator Gets 50 Years

The second case of note was case no. 16-R-054, the State v. Bobby Lee Beck.  In that case, Beck was convicted of Child Molestation and Incest.  Prosecutors sought and received a sentence of 50 years, 25 to serve in the State Penitentiary.&…

The second case of note was case no. 16-R-054, the State v. Bobby Lee Beck.  In that case, Beck was convicted of Child Molestation and Incest.  Prosecutors sought and received a sentence of 50 years, 25 to serve in the State Penitentiary.  Beck had sexual intercourse with a minor relative less than 16 years of age.  “Crimes against children are the most vile, absolutely unforgivable acts in our judicial system. I congratulate the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office and Lily Pad SANE Center in Albany for putting together an excellent case and making our job easier” exclaimed District Attorney Joe Mulholland.