Successful Second Week of Decatur Trials

Decatur Co. man sentenced for raping 80-year-old woman

The South Georgia District Attorney said Billy White is guilty of one count of rape. (Source: South Georgia District Attorney's Office)

By Asia Wilson | November 16, 2018 at 12:19 AM EST - Updated November 16 at 12:19 AM

BAINBRIDGE, GA (WALB) - One Decatur County man will now spend life behind bars without parole for raping an 80-year old woman in 2016.

The trial for Billy White started on Tuesday and lasted two days.

Jurors found White guilty of one count of rape and not guilty on one count of burglary.

District Attorney Joe Mullholland said a senior citizen woman had been living by herself after her husband passed away and was raped while home alone.

Officials were able to catch White by collecting matched DNA samples from another crime he committed in the past.

“The message in this case is one, we were very happy to be able to secure that life without parole verdict on this repeat offender who obviously took advantage of one of the two, what I consider, classifications of people you just don’t mess with, and that’s kids and the elderly,” said Mulholland.

Mulholland said the victim is said to be okay, but had to move out of her home while still being concerned for her safety.

Great First Week in Decatur County November Term.

Criminals tried and sentenced at courthouse

By Staff Reports

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Published 4:43 pm Friday, November 9, 2018

The South Georgia Judicial Circuit, Decatur County November Term was commenced on Monday.

District Attorney Joe Mulholland and Senior Assistant District Attorney David Atwell handled Grand Jury.  The Grand Jury true billed 35 cases and No Billed 4 cases.

Tuesday Nov. Criminal Trials began.  Chief Assistant Mike Bankston tried Jshawn Washington for Child Molestation and Criminal Attempt to Commit Incest.  Washington was arrested on March 20, 2018 by the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office.  Washington sexually assaulted his seven-year-old stepdaughter multiple times while watching pornography with the child in early March in Bainbridge.

After a three-day trial, the Jury convicted Washington of both counts.  Judge Heather H. Lanier sentenced the defendant to 45 years, 30 to serve in the State system.  During sentencing, the defendant passed out.  Lanier will resume sentencing on Tuesday, November 13th.  District Attorney Mulholland stated “This was an atrocious crime.

While the Defendant may have thought it was too harsh given that he passed out when he heard he will spend the next thirty years in prison, he got exactly what he deserved.  I hope that the victim and her family can have some closure knowing he will effectively spend the rest of his life in the State Penitentiary.”

On Thursday November 8th District Attorney Joe Mulholland was prepared to try Darrion Jenkins for Aggravated Sexual Battery and Burglary.  Once a Jury was impaneled, Jenkins pled Blind (meaning at the mercy of the Court) and Chief Judge Kevin Chason sentenced Jenkins to Life Imprisonment.  On September 30th, 2017, the Defendant broke into a 78 year old woman’s residence at approximately 2:30 a.m. in Attapulgus and sexually assaulted her.  “What kind of demented individual breaks into an elderly woman’s home and assaults her? The victim was a strong witness and I am glad she had the courage to face her accuser.  Her testimony sealed his fate, which is that he will spend the rest of his years behind bars.” Mulholland added.

After a plethora of pleas, two cases remain on the calendar for next week.

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Home Invasion Results In Long Term Prison Sentence

 

District Attorney: Bainbridge Burglar Sentenced to 20 Years

September 6, 2018 Dustin Dowdy Around our Area, Featured Posts, Flint Media, News 0

On September 4th, 2018, a major case was resolved in Decatur County.  Aanija Burke was arrested for Burglary and Possession of Tools During the Commission of a Crime.  District Attorney Joe Mulholland, after reviewing the file, added the charge of Home Invasion.  The evidence showed that on November 8th, 2017, the defendant broke the window of the door into a home in Bainbridge, Georgia.  After breaking into the house, the defendant encountered a grandmother and her two (2) year old grandchild.  The defendant was brandishing what appeared to be a firearm (later discovered to be a pellet gun).  The victim and her toddler grandchild were able to escape the house and call law enforcement.  The offender was apprehended shortly thereafter, with blood on his hands which matched the blood spatter from the residence.  The defendant was not given a recommendation and pled at the mercy of the Court.  Chief Judge Kevin Chason heard from the victim and the defendant.  After hearing from both sides, the Court sentenced the defendant to 20 years, 12 to serve in the penitentiary.

District Attorney Joe Mulholland had this to say: “Your home is your castle.  This was a needless intrusion on the victim and her granddaughter in the middle of the day.  His reckless act has left a lifelong impression on the poor victim’s in this case.  The toddler and grandmother still have nightmares of this invasion.  I am very thankful that the Court decided to sentence this defendant to a long term incarceration and want the public to know that such acts will not be tolerated in our community.”

Two Trials Back to Back In Baker County July Term. Two Convictions. Here is a photo of David "Hippie" Campbell and the Press Release.

PRESS RELEASE

The one week Baker County Superior Court trials for the July 2018 term consisted of approximately 22 criminal cases. One case of significant note was the case of David Franklin Campbell.  Mr. Campbell was charged with one count of Incest, Rape, Aggravated Child Molestation, Child Molestation and Cruelty to Children in the First Degree. With the assistance of Baker County Sheriff Office Investigator Charles Griffin, evidence proved on August 20, 2016 David Campbell unlawfully engaged in sexual intercourse with the accused’s daughter.  On or about the 30th day of January 2016, Mr. Campbell did commit an immoral and indecent act to his biological daughter, involving the mouth of the accused and sexual organs of the child, with the intent to arouse and satisfy the sexual desires of himself by placing his lips on the victim’s vagina. The three day impaneled jury trial was tried by District Attorney Joseph K. Mulholland. The jury found Mr. Campbell guilty of rape, incest, aggravated child molestation, child molestation, and reckless conduct.  He was sentenced to 25 years to serve in the state prison system by Judge Heather Lanier. Mulholland had this to say: “This poor child was living a nightmare.  She has been relocated to a Christian Home and hopefully will be able to start a new life.  Her perpetrator will spend the rest of his natural life likely behind bars.”

The second impaneled jury trial was a Felony Murder and Aggravated Assault case also tried by District Attorney Joseph K. Mulholland. With the assistance of Baker County Sheriff Office Investigator Charles Griffin and GBI Agent Rod Porter, evidence showed on April 1, 2017 Antonio Demond Walters caused the death of Marvin Mikel Miller, Jr. by shooting him with a handgun. The two day impaneled jury found Antonio Demond Walters guilty on all counts and was sentenced to 20 years to serve in the state prison system by Judge Heather Lanier. District Attorney said “There are far too many young people killed today over arguments that are trivial.  I hope that Mr. Miller has some closure knowing the killer of his son was held responsible.”

Should you have further concerns or comments please call Mr. Joseph K. Mulholland at 229-246-1823.

David "Hippie" Campbell

Jury finds man guilty of fatal Baker Co. shooting

Monday, July 30th 2018, 4:37 pm EDTMonday, July 30th 2018, 4:37 pm EDTBy Emileigh Forrester.

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Antonio Walters (Source: Miller Co. Sheriff)

BAKER CO., GA (WALB) -

A jury found Antonio Walters guilty Monday afternoon of voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault, according to Joe Mullholland, South Georgia Circuit district attorney. 

Walters was originally charged with felony murder and aggravated assault, but Judge Heather Lanier gave the jury the option of a lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter.  

Walters was sentenced to 20 years to serve in a state penitentiary. 

The case was tried in Baker County Court, which began Friday. 

Walters stood trial for the fatal shooting of Marvin Miller Jr., which happened in March 2017. 

Having a card game, the victim and suspect broke out into an argument. Both left and at some point, they made up, but then continued to argue, according to the district attorney's office.

Miller punched Walters, who then pulled out a gun and shot Miller seven or eight times, according to investigators.

Mullholland said the district attorney's office is pleased with the verdict. 

“We were able to secure some justice for Mr. Miller,” Mullholland said. “Burying your own son is something no parent wants to go through. No winners in a situation like this.” 

SUCCESSFUL WEEK OF CALHOUN MAY TERM!

Great Time at Faceville Baptist Church Speaking on Sexting Laws

Honored to Have Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Lunch

Law enforcement honored and awarded at annual luncheon

By Carolyn Iamon

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Published 4:53 pm Friday, May 18, 2018

Law enforcement officers from the five-county South Georgia Judicial Circuit met at the Kirbo Center in Bainbridge Friday for their annual luncheon and awards.

Guest speaker was Ken Hodges, a former prosecuting attorney who makes his home in Albany and is running unopposed as a candidate for the Court of Appeals.

His message to the group of policemen and deputies was basically, “Tell the truth.”

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He emphasized the importance of talking to all witnesses at an incident and detailing what they say. The Court and jury members are not present at the scene the way the investigating officers are. “Don’t overdo it or oversell it. Be sincere.”

He advised them to meet with the prosecutor beforehand and tell them the details.

“The jurors are deciding on someone’s life based on what you tell them. We have to make sure we do it right,” he said.

He also recommended they begin to act as professionals before they arrive at the courthouse, saying first impressions matter. “You are there to do your job, which is to tell the truth. Your job is not to get convictions, but to tell what happened.”

Another piece of advice was to use visual demonstrative aids when they have them to help jurors understand what happened, but he stressed the need to tell the prosecutor before doing so. “Don’t surprise them with things that aren’t in the report.” His tips to law enforcement also included the advice of not to argue with the defense attorneys, “as some of them will try to bait you. Don’t let them win that way.”

Four employees of the year were recognized by District Attorney Joe Mulholland, who organized the event and acted as host and emcee. He said what he likes best about this meeting is it gives law enforcement officers across the district a chance to get together, get acquainted and exchange ideas and information.

The counties that make up the South Georgia Judicial Circuit are Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Mitchell and Grady.

Mitchell County Police Department winner was Sheila Adkins; representing Calhoun and Baker Counties Sheriff Departments was Tonjua Lewis; Dewayne Pearson was the winner from Cairo Police Department in Grady County and the Decatur County winner was Peggy Perkins.

Mulholland said the winners were all chosen because they are the ones in the departments that get things done. “They are always there when I need them.”

ANOTHER GREAT WEEK! 2 MORE SEXUAL PREDATORS OFF THE STREETS!

Two South GA men convicted on sex charges

Friday, May 18th 2018, 2:52 pm EDTFriday, May 18th 2018, 2:54 pm EDTBy Dave Miller, Digital Executive Producer

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(Source: Decatur Co. Sheriff)

BAINBRIDGE, GA (WALB) -

Two Decatur County men are headed to prison for a long time, after they were convicted on numerous sex charges this week in Bainbridge.

Jamie Hahn was charged and indicted on five counts of child molestation.  After a two-day trial, the jury found Hahn guilty of all counts. Superior Court Judge Frank Horkan sentenced Hahn to 40 years, 35 to serve in the state penitentiary. 

The case was investigated by Inv. Redell Walton with the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office and tried by Senior Assistant District Attorney David Atwell.   

Richard Dixon was charged with 11 counts of Aggravated Child Molestation, Aggravated Sexual Battery, and Child Molestation. After a three-day trial, the jury found the defendant guilty of all counts. 

Judge J. Kevin Chason sentenced Dixon to Life in the State Penitentiary, and he must serve at least 25 years before he is eligible for parole.

The case was investigated by Robert Humphrey of the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Mike Bankston. 

"Both of these defendants effectively will spend the rest of their lives in prison," said South Georgia District Attorney Joe Mulholland.  "Given their vile and reprehensible acts against children of our community, this is the best place for them, behind bars, where they can no longer be a threat to any other innocent victims.  Unfortunately, there is little evidence that child predators can be rehabilitated, so I am happy our office along with the Court and law enforcement removed their ability to act on their sexual perversions."