Prosecutors from the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office presented 44 cases to the Grand Jury Friday, according to District Attorney David McDade.

The following cases were presented to the Grand Jury on Friday, May 31st:

-        Monta Daugherty, on charges of Obstruction of an Officer and Theft by Shoplifting.

-        Tydarold Stephon Huff, April Nicole Cosby, Latresia Zayon Thompson and Kwintha Lavett Holden, on charges of Theft by Shoplifting.

-        Curtis Ray Grindle, Christal Leanne Patterson and Michael Albert Patterson, on charges of Robbery.

-        Richard Wayne Crankshaw, on charges of Riot in a Penal Institution.

-        Arnethia Calhoun and Brandy Jeanelle Neal, on charges of Arson—1st Degree.

-        Rodney Micah Brown, on charges of Aggravated Battery.

-        Alonzo Harrison Alexander, on charges of Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act.

-        Ronald Ray Blankenship, on charges of Sexual Exploitation of Children.

-        Kevin Anthony Anding, on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine.

-        Kevin Anthony Anding and Daniel Robert Ireland, on charges of Identity Fraud.

-        Daniel Robert Ireland, on charges of Identity Fraud.

-        Dwight McKnight, on charges of Aggravated Assault.

-        Kelvin Montgomery, on charges of Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer.

-        Minnie Parker, on charges of Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act and Cruelty to Children.

-        Aaron Alexander, on charges of Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act.

-        Thelisa Galmon, on charges of Cruelty to Children.

-        Kristi Johnson and John Willis, on charges of Armed Robbery.

-        Billy Underwood, on charges of Entering an Automobile.

-        Dylan Thomas Bishop, Kevin Bradley Stone and Brandon Thomas Abb, on charges of Burglary—2nd Degree.

-        Matthew Beavers, on charges of Aggravated Assault (Family Violence Act).

-        Trenton Dejhon Dallas, on charges of Burglary.

-        Vincent Miles and James Anthony White, on charges of Aggravated Assault.

-        Adam James Carlisle, on charges of Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act.

-        Joshua Emmanual Love, on charges of Entering an Automobile.

-        Kelly Moore, on charges of False Statements and Representations Made to Obtain or Increase Benefits.

-        Benjamin Russell Kassars, on charges of Aggravated Battery.

-        Lynn Roberts, Roger Smith and Cedric Jerome Gartrell, on charges of Smash and Grab Burglary.

-        Thomas Andrew Martinez, on charges of Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer.

-        Shaun Langford, Tina Newman, Christy Stewart and William Stewart, on charges of Forgery.

-        Sammy Wayne Smith, on charges of Terroristic Threats.

-        Kevin Franklin, Kendall Pinckney and Reco Smith, on charges of Theft by Shoplifting.

-        Anton Gerrod Hixon, Kevin Jerome Walker and Tevin Walker, on charges of Burglary and Theft by Taking.

-        Dominick Lapsley and Corey Killian, on charges of Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act.

-        William Jarrett Cagle, Richard Earl Crimes, Jr., Gary Isreal Williams and Michael V. Thompson, on charges of Possession of Contraband by Inmate.

-        Cecil Greenwood, on charges of Incest.

-        Ovie Okurume, on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine.

-        James Willoughby, on charges of Criminal Damage to Property.

-        Xavier Collins, on charges of Terroristic Threats.

-        Terrion McDew, on charges of Aggravated Stalking.

-        Michael Edward Williams, on charges of Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer.

-        William Jennings Bryan, on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine.

-        Demarko Antonio Traylor, on charges of Battery.

-        Lisa Brown, on charges of Terroristic Threats.

-        Roger Breeden, on charges of Criminal Damage to Property—2nd Degree.

Press Release

A 53-year-old Winston man with a history of drug use will spend 15 more years in prison after authorities caught him transporting methamphetamine along I-20 last August, according to Douglas County District Attorney David McDade.

Wendell Rex Golden was sentenced Tuesday by Chief Superior Court Judge Robert J. James after entering a guilty plea to one count of Possession of Methamphetamine. Tuesday’s conviction brings Golden’s total number of felony convictions to nine, with three of those prior occasions stemming directly from the defendant’s use of methamphetamine.

Assistant District Attorney Anna Vaughan gave a brief summary of Golden’s latest conviction during the sentencing hearing. The defendant’s most recent run-in with law enforcement occurred while he was still on probation for distributing methamphetamine. According to Vaughan, Golden was pulled over on August 31, 2012, near the Highway 5 exit, for a traffic stop. A search of his vehicle uncovered two bags containing methamphetamine. The drugs were found under the steering wheel, tucked away inside the dashboard.

Press Release

A Fayetteville husband and wife will be serving a 20-year sentence after robbing numerous businesses at gun point around the metro Atlanta area, including a local business in 2007, according to Douglas County District Attorney David McDade.

Preston Marcelus Calhoun, 42, and his wife, Roslynn Ford-Calhoun, 42, were sentenced Monday by Chief Superior Court Judge Robert J. James after entering a guilty plea to one count each of Armed Robbery. Calhoun will serve 20 years in prison while his counterpart, Ford-Calhoun, will spend 15 of the 20 years in confinement. Both are required to pay restitution in the amount of $4,459.52.

The charges stem from an armed robbery that took place at a Dollar General in Lithia Springs on September 10, 2007. Assistant District Attorney Anna Vaughan described in court that an assistant store manager called 911 moments after she had been robbed at gun point. The employee described being confronted in the break room by Calhoun, who then forced her into an office where the store’s safe was located. Once inside the office, the victim was ordered at gun point to empty the safe. While Calhoun was ordering the victim to empty the safe in a back-room office, his wife was acting as a look-out in the front of the store.

A witness described the couple’s getaway vehicle as a white suburban, and the video surveillance of the incident matched two suspects that had been tied to a dozen robberies around the metro Atlanta area.

The identities of the two suspects remained unknown until December 2007, when a high-speed chase in Henry County ended in the capture of the Calhouns. The Henry County Sheriff’s Department caught the couple fleeing from an attempted armed robbery of a Cato’s clothing store in a black Cadillac. It was only a matter of time before Douglas County investigators tied the husband and wife back to the armed robbery in Lithia Springs.

“The detective in this case took a photo lineup from Henry County to the victim in our case,” said Vaughan. “She was able to positively identify the defendant, Preston Calhoun, as the one who robbed her.”

Investigators were also able to establish that the couple owned a 2002 white Chevrolet Suburban, matching the description given by witnesses to the Lithia Springs armed robbery.

A Henry County jury convicted the Calhouns of two separate armed robberies in 2009. Both defendants are still awaiting pending charges in other jurisdictions.

Press Release

A 44-year-old Douglasville man with a history of domestic violence will serve every day of a 10-year prison sentence, according to Douglas County District Attorney David McDade.

Judge David T. Emerson sentenced Antone Francis Rose on Tuesday to a term of 20 years with the first 10 years to be served in prison. Rose, who has a criminal history that includes three prior domestic violence charges scattered across two counties, was sentenced as a repeat offender after entering a guilty plea on charges of battery and aggravated battery.

“The only way to stop someone like Mr. Rose, who apparently believes he has a right to abuse and terrorize women in his life, is to remove him from society and put him where there aren’t any women,” said District Attorney McDade. “Prison is where he will spend the next 10 years. Maybe this will adjust his attitude a little.”

Assistant District Attorney Sherrill Britt told the court that the incidents occurred on two separate dates. The final episode of abuse occurred in October 2012 while Rose was out on bond for an incident involving domestic violence against the same victim.

A phone call in November 2011 by a concerned neighbor prompted authorities to investigate the first incident of domestic violence. The neighbor, according to Britt, told investigators she noticed the victim’s right eye was black and swollen. When pressed for an answer to the injuries, the victim revealed that Rose head-butted her in the eye. The victim told the neighbor she did not call law enforcement because she was afraid of the defendant. In an interview with authorities, the victim disclosed the injuries were a result of Rose throwing her across the room, kicking her in the back of the head and head-butting her in the eye following an argument. Rose ultimately admitted to head-butting his live-in girlfriend and tried to claim that her conduct cause him to do it.

The abuse continued after the defendant was released on bond. The domestic violence came to a halt the following October when deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office received a call from an anonymous caller concerned for the victim’s safety. A welfare check at the couple’s residence led authorities to notice that the victim’s arm was broken. When asked about the injury, the victim told officers that Rose broke her arm by throwing an ashtray at her. Rose initially admitted to throwing the ashtray, but said he did not know how his girlfriend broke her arm. In a follow-up interview with the responding officer, Rose denied throwing the ashtray and stated the victim broke her arm by falling into a coffee table.

Press Release

Prosecutors from the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office presented 18 cases to the Grand Jury Friday, according to District Attorney David McDade.

The following cases were presented to the Grand Jury on Friday, April 26th:

- Damon Chance Sellers, Shawn Edward Davis and German William Beltran, on charges of Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act.

- German William Beltran, on charges of Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act.

- Jacob Cole Overton, on charges of Illegal Substance Near School

- Shannon Bradley, on charges of Identity Fraud.

- Anthony Dwayne Arnold, on charges of Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act.

- Nicholas Adam Anderson, Joshua Eric Bordelon, Kristen Michelle Davis, Richard Michael Martini and George Lee Mathis, on charges of Burglary and Attempted Armed Robbery.

- James Daniel Miller, on charges of Kidnapping, Battery and Criminal Trespass.

- Brandon Micki Crawford and Neteaya Lachane Williams, on charges of Theft by Receiving Stolen Property and Theft by Deception.

- Kyle Banks, on charges of Aggravated Child Molestation and Statutory Rape.

- Lucien Beaudette, on charges of Aggravated Assault.

- Reginald Webb, on charges of Aggravated Assault (Family Violence Act).

- Justin Jeremy Oakes, on charges of Aggravated Assault (Family Violence Act).

- Kristopher Moreno, on charges of Theft by Shoplifting.

- Henry Lopez Rosas, on charges of Simple Battery and Battery (Family Violence Act).

- Branden Giles, on charges of Battery (Family Violence Act).

- Brandon Larry, on charges of Aggravated Assault.

- Terry Wayne Farr and Sandy Gunter Pritchett, on charges of Aggravated Battery.

- Stephen Ray Garrison, on charges of Violation of Georgia Employment Security Law.

Press Release

Douglas County District Attorney David McDade and his staff attended the Douglas County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning, as the board unanimously adopted a resolution proclaiming April 21-27 as Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Douglas County.

The proclamation, presented by Director of Victim Services Maegan Eggler-Bright, officially kicks off a string of events and activities scheduled in the coming week to bring awareness to victims’ rights and the more than 18.7 million Americans who are victimized and directly harmed by crime each year.

So often, the attention surrounding a crime stays on the defendant. That attention will shift and stay solely focused on the rights of crime victims Wednesday, April 24th, when District Attorney McDade and his staff honor individuals at their annual Victims’ Rights Ceremony at 10 a.m. in Citizens Hall, located on the second floor of the Douglas County Courthouse. The ceremony is open to the public.

The ceremony will celebrate the life of Bobby Tillman, an 18-year-old who passed away in November 2010 after being murdered at a house party. Tillman’s mother, Monique Rivarde, and her family will be recognized with the “Victims’ Voice Award” for their unyielding support and dedication to victims’ rights.

Lt. Bruce Ferguson, who was the lead investigator on the Tillman case, will be honored for his continued effort and determination in seeking justice for crime victims. A special tribute will also be held for Rhonda Payne, the former Douglas Superior Court Clerk who was an avid supporter in the fight for victims’ rights.

District Attorney David McDade will also present awards to the finalists from this year’s Victims’ Rights Art Contest. For the second-straight year, high-school students across the Douglas County School System used their creative talents to create art that reflects their interpretation of victims’ rights. Every piece of art submitted in the contest is currently displayed in the second-floor atrium at the Douglas County Courthouse for the viewing public through April 26th.

The 2013 Douglas County Crime Victims’ Rights Week coincides with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Since 1981, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week has allowed communities across the nation an opportunity to honor, celebrate and bring awareness to victims’ rights.

Press Release

Prosecutors from the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office presented 23 cases to the Grand Jury Friday, according to District Attorney David McDade.

The following cases were presented to the Grand Jury on Friday, April 5th:

- Dion Ramon Barbary, on charges of Aggravated Assault and Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act

- Saroyan Xavier Bailey, Nicholas Lee Henderson, Antonio Pereze Thomas, Desmond Quayson Zachery, Deandre Andrew Jackson, Russell Nathaniel Jennings Jr., Robert Thomas Sheffield III, Anthony Quave Yates, Deric Wiggles-Harris, Davian Corbett, Tevyn Clarke, Devion Byrd and Devin Denard Lindley, on charges of Aggravated Assault

- Tony George Sprayberry, on charges of Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act

- Tony George Sprayberry, on charges of Theft by Receiving Stolen Property

- William Knight, on charges of Aggravated Battery

- Joshua Eric Bordelon and Evan Christopher Major, on charges of Burglary—1st Degree

- Loretta Jean Dorris, on charges of Aggravated Assault

- Artis Demetrius Shorty, on charges of Riot in a Penal Institution and Obstruction of an Law Enforcement Officer

- Randy Darnez Gipson, on charges of Burglary—1st Degree

- James Frank Jordan III, on charges of Burglary, Theft by Taking and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

- Stacie Lynn Speights and Michael Alexander White, on charges of Aggravated Assault and Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act

- Karlos Eugene Grant, on charges of Criminal Damage to Property—2nd Degree

- Corey Jose July, on charges of Items Prohibited for Possession by Inmates

- Carlene Wanda Potts, on charges of Terroristic Threats, Simple Battery and Criminal Trespass

- Deon Latrell Bradley and Dillon Richard Green, on charges of Burglary—1st Degree, Theft by Taking and Entering an Automobile

- Dirk Bullock and Jamey Argo, on charges of Burglary—2nd Degree

- Timothy Brown and Jeffrey Blackerby, on charges of Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act

- Richard Lee Harp, Sr., on charges of Theft by Conversion

-  Bradley Alan Grote, on charges of Burglary—2nd Degree

-  Curtis Dunn, on charges of Aggravated Battery (Family Violence Act)

-  Xavier Collins, on charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

- Christian Dewayne Smith, on charges of Burglary—1st Degree

-  Kimont Ford, Marcus Overstreet (aka Sheddrick Harris), Domique Robinson (aka Lemarc Anthony Davis) and Lenaldo Smith (aka James Smith) , on charges of Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon

Press Release

While head lights from vehicles light up the evening flow of traffic, a light still shines inside a second-floor office in the Douglas County Courthouse. It’s 7 p.m., and Lynne Voelker is just getting her second wind. Voelker, a nine-and-a-half-year veteran prosecutor hired earlier this year by Douglas County District Attorney David McDade, is frequently one of the last people to walk out of the District Attorney’s Office. Voelker’s dedication is no surprise to District Attorney McDade, who calls the hiring of Voelker a victory for victims and citizens of this community.

“Lynne brings a passion for prosecution and victims’ rights,” said McDade. “It’s no secret my goal in life has been furthering the rights of crime victims. Lynne shares that desire for our victims. She is a prosecutor who is not going to waiver or back down from getting the justice those victims deserve. Our office is lucky to have added a person with her qualities and experience.”

From the very beginning, Voelker has viewed her role as more of a calling than a job. “There is not another job like this, where you’re helping and making a difference,” she says. But her calling almost went unanswered.

Following her graduation from the University of Alabama, Voelker uprooted and moved to Atlanta, where she landed a job working in Labor and Employment at the southeast office of Vulcan Materials Company, one of the nation’s leading producers of construction aggregates. She stayed with the company for four to five years until the birth of her son, when she took on the full time position of being a mom. Her role gained more responsibility two years later when her daughter was born.

Voelker says she enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom during that period in her life. But in 1998, as their childhood began to fade away, a new thought crept into her mind. The mother of two wanted to go back into the corporate arena and she believed a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Masters in Business Administration (M.B.A.) would be the key to open up those opportunities. She ultimately decided to pursue a law degree, a legal education that would complement her business background.

Voelker went part-time to Georgia State University, and scheduled a majority of her classes to coincide with the work and school schedules of her husband and children. By the second year of law school, ideas of re-joining the corporate world were a distant memory. The former businesswoman had taken an interest in prosecution while participating in moot court, an activity at many law schools in which students participate in simulated court proceedings.

If moot court was the spark, then being on the school’s mock trial team added the necessary fuel for her new passion.

“I met a number of students who were seeking careers in prosecution and several former prosecutors who provided support, encouragement, contacts and advice to all of us who showed an interest in prosecution,” Voelker said. “After being in that type of courtroom setting, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in that field.”

Those same people helped her land a summer internship with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia (PAC). The internship afforded Voelker the chance to play a witness at the council’s annual Basic Litigation Training Course, a series of lectures and workshops designed to give prosecutors with little or no courtroom experience an opportunity to enhance their skills. Voelker, to her surprise, never made it to the witness stand. Instead she was allowed to go through the course as a prosecutor, when a participant did not show up for the course.

Her performance made an impression. A few months after Voelker graduated from law school in 2002, she received a phone call from the Cobb County Solicitor-General’s Office. Voelker’s initial job as a prosecutor in that office allowed her to put a check mark by one of two personal goals. When former Cobb County District Attorney Pat Head hired her three years later, she was able to check off Assistant District Attorney, the next career goal she wanted to accomplish.

“I wanted to do something rewarding and challenging. I wasn’t looking for just a job; I was looking to do something meaningful,” said Voelker, when asked about her goals as a prosecutor. “My goal was to become an Assistant District Attorney in a jurisdiction where I enjoyed and respected the prosecutors in the District Attorney’s Office and Solicitor’s Office, and where I felt that I could make a contribution. I enjoy working with victims and law enforcement, and I don’t see myself in any other legal career.”

Even though she has reached her goal, Voelker has not stopped being an advocate for victims. She still possesses the same skills and traits colleagues admire and opposing attorneys respect.

On any given weeknight, when the echoes of timecards being punched out are only a distant memory, a person can walk through the hallways of the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office and still hear sounds. Lynne Voelker is just getting another burst of energy and the clock, just like her spark, has no signs of winding down.

Press Release

Many months of hard work by Douglas County District Attorney David McDade have been rewarded as the Georgia General Assembly has now voted to pass HB 349, a criminal justice reform package that was introduced at the behest of Governor Nathan Deal and included several pieces of legislation that McDade co-wrote and sponsored on behalf of the District Attorney Association of Georgia.

McDade’s role in the creation and development of this legislation comes about as a result of his work in several areas. First, he serves as Governor Deal’s appointee to the Criminal Justice Reform Council, which is the group responsible for making recommendations to the Governor on ways to improve the justice system. McDade also serves as the Chairman of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the District Attorney’s Association of Georgia. In that capacity he represents the interests of the entire prosecution community at the State Capitol, a position he has held for many years.

“All the credit for this legislation belongs to Governor Deal for his leadership in seeing to it that these improvements in the justice system become law,” said McDade. “Without his backing I doubt, seriously, that much, if any, of these improvements would have passed.”

McDade said he is most proud of the legislation that specifically expands the protections for children who witness abuse. Under this bill, prosecutors will have the authority to introduce statements made by those children to others describing what they saw and heard, thereby helping to ease the trauma and reduce the re-victimization of those children during court proceedings by hopefully reducing the amount of times they have to testify.

“Anytime we can help a victim, and in this case a child that witnesses abuse is certainly a victim of emotional and psychological abuse, we should do everything in our power to do so,” said McDade. “This bill is designed to do just that.”

Another critically important part of HB 349, according to McDade, is a provision that will allows the prosecution to appeal pre-trial rulings made to exclude evidence from the jury. Under this bill the State would be afforded the right to have a higher court review the ruling before the trial takes place, thereby making certain the ruling was proper. Currently the defendant is always given the ultimate opportunity to have a higher court review a judge’s ruling, whereas the prosecution is not.

“This law would allow us in certain limited situations to be given that same right,” said McDade. “While I do not see this as an issue that I routinely confronted with here locally, many prosecutors around the State feel that competent evidence of a defendant’s guilt is often excluded and that unless a pre-trial review of the decision is available, they are forced to go to trial without it and their victims suffer the consequences.”

While McDade was glad to have a part in HB 349, he acknowledged the Governor and top leaders at the Capitol are the ones responsible for the piece of legislation being passed.

“Again, all the credit belongs to the Governor and to the leadership at the Capitol for making this happen. I’m just fortunate and proud to have had a role in working with them on these changes that I honestly believe will help us help victims,” said McDade.

Press Release

Douglas County District Attorney David McDade announced the launch of the 2013 Victims’ Rights Art Contest, an event bringing awareness to the rights of crime victims through the talented work of high-school art students in Douglas County.

The 2013 Victims’ Rights Art Contest coincides with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which is being observed throughout the country April 21 – 27. Each year, communities around the nation spend those seven days promoting victims’ rights, and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf.

The idea of honoring crime victims through art came to mind during a brainstorming session for the 2012 Victims’ Rights Week. The idea became an instant hit with art students across the county. Teenagers from all five high schools submitted pieces of art in the event’s inaugural year. A tie at the top allowed Jack Roper and Virginia Poole, two Chapel Hill High School classmates, a share of first-place bragging rights. Those two students each took home $500, the same amount being awarded to this year’s winner. Participants finishing second and third will be awarded $250 and $100.

Any student attending one of the five local high schools in Douglas County is eligible for entry. Other than being enrolled in the Douglas County School System, a student’s art work must convey their interpretation of victims’ rights or a personal experience as a victim of crime or a family member/friends experience as a victim of crime.

A new addition to this year’s art contest is a photography category. Through a partnership with the Douglas County Sentinel, students can submit a separate art piece in the form of a photograph. The winners will receive a Sentinel prize pack. Each participant in this category is also eligible for one of the top three overall prizes in the contest. Photography submissions should be of the original image taken by the entrant. Photos altered using digital means for artistic and creative effect are welcomed as well.

McDade said his office’s art contest, unlike others, has no guideline requirements for the participant’s artwork or technique.

“When we came up with the contest last year, I decided that a certain shape, size or style should not tie down a student’s imagination,” said McDade. “If a student is taking the time to honor victims with their artwork, then guidelines should not halt their ambitions in making it a reality.”

The only requirement is the deadline. Students are required to submit their artwork to their high school art teacher by Monday, April 15th. A registration form must be filled out and attached to their work. Winners will be notified later on that week with a ceremony honoring their artistic achievement taking place during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

All the artwork from this year’s contest will be available for public viewing in the second-floor atrium of the Douglas County Courthouse from Thursday, April 18th, through Friday, April 26th. Pictures of the art collection will also be posted on the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office Facebook page.

The official rules, registration form and information about the 2013 Victims’ Rights Art Contest can be found at the office’s website, www.DouglasCountyDA.org. If you have any further questions, please contact Director of Community Relations Andrew Agan at (770) 920-7292.

Press Release