Ex-sheriff’s captain denied bond for probation violation

A former Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office captain who was arrested in late April for allegedly violating the terms of his probation for a sexual assault and battery conviction has been denied bond by the Forsyth County Superior Court.

According to Chief Assistant District Attorney Sandra Partridge, Frank Augustus Huggins, 76, was denied bond at a hearing held on Wednesday, June 5 and was ordered to remain in custody until a bond revocation hearing is held later this month.

Huggins was taken into custody on April 30, after his home on Ridgecrest Avenue in Cumming was searched by an officer with the Department of Public Supervision, officials said.

At a bench trial in March, Huggins was found guilty of sexual assault and battery for touching a 16-year-old girl’s inner thigh in 2016 while acting as her driving instructor.

During the trial, a two-hour dash camera video recording was played in the courtroom which showed Huggins repeatedly touching the girl’s body.

Huggins was later sentenced to 10 years of probation and was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service by Forsyth County Chief Superior Court Judge Jeffrey S. Bagley. As part of his probation, Huggins was required to register as a sex offender and was banned from teaching or having authority over any other person, or from possessing firearms or drugs.

Previously, Huggins served as spokesman and part of the command staff for former Forsyth County Sheriff Ted Paxton from 2001-10 before retiring in 2010 as a captain.

In addition to his convictions for sexual assault and battery, Huggins has been charged with a probation violation, which is a felony under Georgia law.

Partridge said that Huggins’s bond revocation hearing will be held at 9 a.m. June 18.

Source: https://www.forsythnews.com/local/crime-courts/ex-sheriffs-captain-denied-bond-for-probation-violation/

Grand jury indicts man on robbery, assault charges

A six-count indictment has been returned by a Baldwin County grand jury against a Milledgeville man in connection with an armed robbery and aggravated assault case.

The indictment charges Cameren Omund Henry with two counts of aggravated assault, one count of armed robbery, two counts of false imprisonment, and possession of a firearm by a first offender probationer, according to records filed in the Baldwin County Superior Court Clerk’s Office.

The multi-count indictment against Henry was made on May 21.

Several other defendants, meanwhile, were also indicted on criminal charges. They included:

Ladamion Deshon King, aggravated assault, battery, kidnapping, false imprisonment, criminal trespass, and hindering an emergency telephone call.
Azavier Ferrell Foster, aggravated assault and terroristic threats.
Michelle Elizabeth Bridges, aggravated assault.
Joseph Lamont Curry, aggravated battery, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
Maquavious Malike Hall, aggravated assault, hijacking a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of marijuana less than an ounce, driving while license suspended, hit-and-run, and failure to maintain lane.
Antonio Rashard Evans, robbery by force, making a false statement, battery under the Georgia Family Violence Act, hindering an emergency telephone call, two counts of cruelty to children in the third degree, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
Jacob Lea Farino, kidnpapping and simple battery under the Georgia Family Violence Act.
Monroe Franklin Arnold, rape.
Stephen Borders, two counts of aggravated stalking.
Marcel Omar Lackey, two counts of burglary in the first degree.
Tyrone Rama Gibson, burglary in the first degree.
Thaddeus Lamont Walker, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, driving under the influence less safe of alcohol, driving while license suspended, use of license plate to conceal identity, Violation of the Georgia Open Container Law, reckless driving, littering highway, operating a vehicle without insurance, and failure to register vehicle.
Eric Jacob Jordan, aggravated stalking.
Jasper Mason, terroristic threats.
Norman Gordon Holsey, driving under the influence and failure to wear a seat safety belt.
Xavier Sharnard Dixon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Floyd Dennis Smith, intimidation of an elder person, and simple battery.
Deborah Weirauch, exploitation of an elder person and forgery in the first degree.
Antonio Bernard Veal, terroristic threats.
Nicholson Simon, five counts of obstruction of a law enforcement officer, and giving false information to a law enforcement officer.
Brandi Carolyn Myers, identity fraud.
Michelle Elizabeth Bridges, failure to register as a sex offender.
Micha Brown, two counts of theft by receiving stolen property, and criminal use of an article with an altered identification mark.
Yolando Jermaine Odom, cruelty to children in the first degree.
Robert Lee Howard, failure to register as a sex offender.
Lauren McCant, therroristic threats, criminal trespass, and underage possession of alcohol.
Jasper Mason, two counts of terroristic threats.
Rayfield Everett Jr., terroristic threats.
Daniel Aaron Brunfield and Megan Maureen Hodges were jointly indicted on a charge of theft by shoplifting.
Kenneth Ray McDaniel, theft of services, and making a false statement.
Cesar Basurto, false imprisonment, simple battery under the Georgia Family Violence Act, and reckless conduct.

Jeannette Farmer Eady, 74, passed away Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at Nunn-Wheeler Cemetery with the Rev. Freddie Hogg officiating. Mrs. Eady was born in Milledgeville and was a graduate of Baldwin County High School. She worked for Dr. …

Grady Ray Townsend (Pop) of Oxford, passed away Friday, May 15, 2020, at the age of 89. A Marine, Mr. Townsend valiantly served his country in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and was a faithful member of Heritage Hills Baptist Church. He was a hardworking, selfless man w…

Benjie Dewayne Fountain, 58, passed away Thursday, May 15, 2020. Private services will be held at West View Cemetery. Benjie was a life-long resident of Baldwin County. He was a retired electrician. He was preceded in death by his father, James E. Fountain; and two brothers, Eddie Fountain a…

A private burial service for Mrs. Lois Gilbert of Sparta, Ga., will be held for family. Her memories shall forever remain in the heart of her children, Johnnie Gilbert, Jennie Rous, Brenda Gilbert, Polly Wheeler, Eddie Gilbert, Bobby Gilbert, Deborah Gilbert, Timmy Gilbert, Trudy Butt and Ro…

Funeal services for Mrs. Evelyn R. Abram of Sparta, Ga., will be held privately with family. Her memories will be cherished by her children, Timothy Duggans, Charles Duggans, Kathy Harper, Lucious Abrams, Reva Williams and Vanessa Cheathem. Services entrusted to Dawson’s Mortuary, 98 Hopgood…

Source: https://www.unionrecorder.com/news/grand-jury-indicts-man-on-robbery-assault-charges/article_48101248-82da-11e9-9ece-b7aeff3d03f2.html

Investigators say registered sex offender was found with child porn

MOULTRIE, Ga. — A registered sex offender is back behind bars after law enforcement officers say they found child pornography on his computer.

Victor Elias, 62, 167 Unity Lane, has been charged with multiple counts of sexual exploitation of children, Colquitt County Sheriff’s Investigator Sgt. Kat Johnson said Tuesday.

Elias was convicted in Florida and registered as a sex offender, Johnson said. When he moved to Colquitt County, he came under the supervision of the Department of Community Supervision.

Probation officers with that department were making a routine offender check at his residence when they found probable cause to believe he had child pornography on the computer, Johnson said. The sheriff’s office investigated and found sufficient evidence to charge him.

“He has been charged,” Johnson said, “but the investigation is ongoing into uncovering as many files as possible.”

Johnson said the files found on the computer did not appear to be “homemade,” which is to say investigators found no evidence that Colquitt Countians made or were victimized in them.

Information from the files will be used by other law enforcement agencies to try to identify victims or perpetrators, she said.

Source: https://www.unionrecorder.com/news/ga_fl_news/investigators-say-registered-sex-offender-was-found-with-child-porn/article_d72da72a-d4c8-5bd4-8a37-334065945d6f.html

Grady Co. Sheriff wants this sex offender

By Dave Miller | May 17, 2019 at 1:24 PM EDT – Updated May 17 at 1:24 PM

CAIRO, Ga. (WALB) – The Grady County Sheriff’s Office has been trying to locate a sex offender who has not fulfilled his requirements to keep the sheriff updated with his residence, and for failure to appear.

Charles Hill has absconded from the Grady County Sheriff’s Office sex offender registry, and hasn’t been where he is supposed to be since last September, according to the sheriff’s office.

Hill has ties to Cairo and Thomasville, and his conviction was handed down in Florida. There is a bench warrant on him for failure to appear last September, and another warrant for failure to register as a sex offender last October.

His last known address was on Ramble Circle in Cairo.

Several agencies are currently looking for him, including the United States Marshal’s Service.

Hill was born in 1963, and is 6 feet tall, and weighs about 180 pounds. If you can help law enforcement catch him, call (229) 377-5200.

Source: https://www.walb.com/2019/05/17/grady-co-sheriff-wants-this-sex-offender/

Registered sex offender fired from Dawson Fire Dept.

By Marilyn Parker| May 16, 2019 at 7:49 AM EDT – Updated May 16 at 7:49 AM

DAWSON, Ga. (WALB) – Dawson’s public safety director said he’s to blame for re-hiring a registered sex offender at the fire department.

The firefighter, Norrick Brown, has now been dismissed from the department.

Dawson Public Safety Director Tommy Poupard said he wasn’t aware Brown was a registered sex offender, until WALB got a tip about it, and contacted Poupard.

Now, he said he’s going to be more careful when reviewing applications.

Have you ever wondered who is under the masks, fighting fires in your neighborhood?

“Norrick Brown had worked with us in the past. He got in some trouble. I thought I knew what it was, but it appears I didn’t,” said Poupard.

Poupard said he didn’t know Brown had been accused of sending sexual messages to a 13-year-old girl, according to WALB’s archives in 2013.

“Well that was news to us, so I went to do some checking,” he said.

It wasn’t until WALB reached out to Poupard Tuesday when the station got a tip about Brown’s re-hiring.

Now, after the district attorney’s office said he pleaded guilty to sexual battery in 2014, Brown is listed as a registered sex offender on the GBI website.

“I dropped the ball on it. I should’ve performed a little more due diligence but thankfully we caught,” he explained.

The assistant district attorney told WALB Brown was sentenced to five years probation.

Poupard said on Brown’s application it only stated battery as a prior offense, as well as three references from within the department.

“All three with the fire department here in Dawson, and they were happy to see him back. He was a good firefighter,” he said.

But Poupard said being a good firefighter is not enough for him to remain on the force.

Moving forward, he said they’re looking into adding more questions to job applications, if legally allowed.

“Because of the people, we deal with the public, we just can’t have that perception sitting there,” he explained.

WALB did try to get the court documents for Brown’s case, but the court has sealed them from the public.

Poupard said he’s been in contact with the Dawson interim city manager about changing applications to ask for more information.

The city manager did not want to comment.

Source: https://www.walb.com/2019/05/16/registered-sex-offender-fired-dawson-fire-dept/

Man sentenced to 12 years in prison for aggravated assault

DALTON, Ga. — A Dalton man was sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by eight years on probation after pleading guilty to aggravated assault, simple battery, sexual battery, cruelty to children in the first degree and reckless conduct in Whitfield County Superior Court on Friday, according to District Attorney Bert Poston.

A rape charge was dismissed against Abel Lee Rodriguez, according to Poston.

Rodriguez will also have to pay a $3,000 fine as well as court costs and surcharges, perform 300 hours of community service, pay $1,700 in restitution to the Georgia Crime Victims Fund, abide by sex offender conditions and have no contact with the victim.

According to an indictment, on or about Aug. 12, 2016, Rodriguez “did commit an act which placed another … in reasonable apprehension of immediately receiving a violent injury … by holding her down and threatening to harm her …” The indictment describes the female as under 18.

In a separate case, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to possession of meth and was sentenced to serve three years concurrent with the other sentence. Charges of possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, possession of drug-related objects, misdemeanor obstruction of officers and receipt, possession or transfer of a firearm by a convicted felon were dropped.

Source: https://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/ga_fl_news/man-sentenced-to-12-years-in-prison-for-aggravated-assault/article_ede7a0af-dbe2-5741-a295-f1d2db183724.html

Convicted sex offender confesses to multiple murders, including Georgia

Nicholas Brent allegedly confessed to murders in several states, including Georgia.

Source: https://www.11alive.com/video/news/crime/convicted-sex-offender-confesses-to-multiple-murders-including-georgia/85-9f232f49-5324-47ea-a057-28f845fe34cb

Convicted sex offender accused of mutilating elderly man claims murders in Georgia, other states

Nicholas Brent Gibson spent more than his share of time in Georgia jails and prisons before being arrested for a recent murder. But, he says it’s not his first.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Authorities say he murdered a 77-year-old man with a sword in south Florida before escaping to New York – and then getting caught.

Now, 32-year-old Nicholas Brent Gibson, a registered sex offender with ties to Cobb County, is claiming this is far from his first time killing.

The Miami Herald reports Gibson is the prime suspect in the grisly murder of 77-year-old Erik Stocker whose decomposing, mutilated corpse was found in Miami Beach 10 days after investigators believe he was killed.

Gibson was later spotted in New York and taken into custody by transit police as he awaits extradition back to Florida. But his history in jails and prisons begins much earlier.

The Herald reports Gibson was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in Illinois as a juvenile in 2000 and spent 7 years in a juvenile prison having been placed on the sex offender registry at that time.

Months later, he was allegedly picked up in Pennsylvania on several sexual assault charges and spent another four years, six months behind bars.

Three months later, Gibson ended up in Cobb County, Georgia where state records show he spent more time behind bars at Dooly State Prison.

The Herald reports he skipped bond and disappeared before resurfacing in Miami Beach in 2013, facing arrests for trespassing and failure to register once again. He ended up being sent back to Georgia where he did two more years of prison after failing to register as a sex offender again.

He ended up back in Florida and eventually back in prison before being released again in late 2018. Less than a year later, he’s now accused in Stocker’s death.

It was during his most recent arrest that police said he admitted that there were more murders in his troubled history – six across Florida, Georgia, and California. But authorities are still trying to determine if this is true.

MORE NEWS

Source: https://www.11alive.com/article/news/sex-offender-accused-of-mutilating-elderly-man-claims-more-murders-in-georgia-other-states/85-f8d31588-62aa-4b34-8505-1a0c56a3d5cc

Police arrest Florida man for 1 murder, he tells them he committed 6 more

(CNN) — When New York police officers tracked down a Florida man wanted in connection with a murder in Miami Beach, they had no idea they may have stopped a potential serial killer.

Transit police found Nicholas Brent Gibson, 32, coming off of a subway train Sunday and arrested him. During questioning, police said, Gibson confessed to killing 77-year-old Erik Stocker in Miami Beach in April, and then allegedly told police he’d killed six other people in Florida, Georgia and California.

Police in those states are working to corroborate the statements about the six other killings, but haven’t been able to connect Gibson to the alleged crimes yet, Miami Beach Police spokesman Ernesto Rodriguez told CNN Wednesday.

CNN reached out to a public defender assigned to Gibson, but did not immediately hear back.

Gibson has been wanted by the US Marshals Service since 2016 for failing to register as a sex offender in multiple states over the years.

He’d been required to register as a sex offender since he was 13 years old, after being convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in Illinois in 2000, according to a federal criminal complaint.

In 2008, he also pleaded guilty to statutory sexual assault of a minor under 16 in Pennsylvania — another conviction requiring him to report his sex offender status wherever he lived, according to court documents.

Mimi Hsin Hsuan Sun contributed to this story.

Source: https://www.cbs46.com/police-arrest-florida-man-for-1-murder-he-tells-them-he-committed-6-more/article_567702bc-906d-5da1-ae90-58e484a98133.html

North Georgia man sentenced to 10 years in prison for aggravated child molestation

DALTON, Ga. — A Rocky Face man pleaded guilty in Murray County Superior Court to aggravated child molestation in Murray County and sexual exploitation of a child in Whitfield County and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Cody Trent Ware, 22, was indicted in Murray County in 2018 on charges of aggravated child molestation and statutory rape. He was indicted in 2017 in Whitfield County on charges of sexual exploitation of a child and computer and electronic child exploitation. All are felonies.

Chief Superior Court Judge William T. Boyett sentenced Ware to 20 years, with 10 in prison and 10 on probation, for aggravated child molestation. Ware was sentenced to 10 years in prison, to run concurrent with the other sentence, for the sexual exploitation charge. Ware must also pay a $1,000 fine, perform 100 hours of community service, pay court costs and fees, and abide by sex offender conditions.

According to the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, Ware was 19 in November of 2016 when he was arrested and charged with statutory rape for having sex with a 14-year-old female runaway. A Whitfield County deputy had stopped Ware’s car with the female inside, and the Murray sheriff’s office said an investigation determined the sexual act happened in Murray County.

Source: https://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/ga_fl_news/north-georgia-man-sentenced-to-10-years-in-prison-for-aggravated-child-molestation/article_9204cd85-3396-5634-a487-ccaa0926df2a.html