TeleCourt has been a resounding success!

Virtual court hearings saving taxpayers thousands of dollars. /

As courts continue to stay closed to protect the public , they've had to find different solutions to help alleviate caseload burdens.The South Georgia Judicial Circuit has been using the video conferencing app "Star Leaf" to conduct full hearings.The counties currently using the service are Mitchell, Decatur, and Grady counties.The District Attorney Joe Mulholland says when the pandemic hit, they had to start looking at different media solutions."It’s really, really been a lifesaver for the judicial system in our circuit for the last two months," Mulholland said. "We were able to procure the funds through our office and in all these other agencies to go ahead and purchase Star Leaf. We began putting it in and installing it into our circuit."Mulholland says so far about $20,000 approximately has been used for the service but they've been able to save twice that by meeting virtually.Those who don't have access to a computer can still use the service."The general public they can actually go to the court room, the jail court rooms, the secondary court rooms, and observe this on the cameras that we have installed. And the monitors that we have installed," Mulholland explained. "The witnesses if they don’t have access or don’t feel comfortable in any event, we do have computers in our office that they can use to testify from."Star Leaf is ISO encrypted which is why the District Attorney says the possibility of security breaches are not a concern.He hopes to add the service to Baker County soon.

Tele-Court Set to Start Next Week!

Updated April 9 at 5:46 PMMORGAN, Ga. (WALB) - The South Georgia Judicial Circuit, which includes Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Grady and Mitchell counties, said that the Superior Court will only be conducting essential hearings and they will be held remotely, according to an order released Thursday.The order said that it has been determined that it is neither safe nor feasible to allow court to be conducted in person.Out of caution, essential hearings for the Superior Court will, therefore, be held through remote video conferencing until further notice unless otherwise ordered by the court, the order states.The order is effective immediately and runs through May 13.The order also explains that all participating parties will have to contact the court at least 24 hours before the scheduled hearing and they will be provided electronic access information.The courtroom and court proceedings will still be open for the public to attend, but people will be subject to health screenings and are encouraged to view or participate using virtual conferencing. Anyone who chooses to attend in person will be required to remain at least six feet apart from other individuals in the courtroom.For those who would like to view court proceedings virtually, they can contact the court at least 24 hours before the procedure and the court will provide electronic access information.The order also requires the sheriff’s offices within the South Georgia Judicial Circuit to post the order as well as the court clerks to notify the public of the order.

Prayers for the Knop Family

McBride to serve 3 years in prison for fatal wreck

  • By Erik Yabor erik.yabor@gaflnews.com

CAIRO — A Grady County judge sentenced Anna Marie McBride to three years in state prison for her involvement in a January 2019 wreck that took the life of Thomasville High School senior Levi Knop.

Thursday morning's court session was originally scheduled to include motion hearings in McBride's case, but court was instead called to order for McBride to submit a negotiated guilty plea to one count of first degree vehicular homicide, one count of reckless driving and one count of speeding.

Superior Court Judge Heather Lanier sentenced McBride to 15 years, three of which will be in state custody. The remaining 12 will be served on probation.

Lanier largely accepted the state's suggested sentence of 15 years, three being in state custody, but with an addendum — McBride is also to pay a $10,000 fine and serve 500 hours of community service. At least 150 of McBride's community service hours must be spent sharing her story to young drivers as a warning not to drive recklessly. 

McBride, who turns 19 on Friday, began weeping uncontrollably as a law enforcement officer placed her in handcuffs and led her outside the courtroom.

Prior to being taken into custody, McBride told Knop's family "how very sorry (she was) for the accident that happened that terrible, terrible day." She added that she was thankful for the positive impact that Knop, 18 at the time of his death, left during life.

District Attorney Joe Mulholland said both students were on their way to school the morning of Jan. 29, 2019 when the accident occurred. McBride, who had been running late for class, reached speeds as high as 116.8 mph in the moments just before she struck Knop in the rear.

The collision caused Knop's vehicle to careen off the side of the road where he struck a tree. The impact shook Knop violently, and he quickly began bleeding out.

In her impact statement, Knop's mother Joy said that her son expressed his love for her in his final moments.

"We are the ones who have been sentenced," she said.

"We were handed a life sentence for something we didn't do: a life without Levi."

Mulholland said McBride originally told investigators that Knop "aggressively swerved" in front of her vehicle, but the district attorney said a specialized collision reconstruction team (SCRT) found that assertion to be "absolutely untrue." The state said that Knop had in fact made a last-ditch attempt to move out of McBride's way, but was unsuccessful.

Knop was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision. No defects were found with either vehicle, and there was no indication that either individual had been using an electronic device prior to the crash.

In the year since Levi's death, Joy Knop said she panics almost daily when thinking of ways her son could have been saved. She said she regretted she was unable to celebrate her son's 19th birthday, which would have taken place Dec. 11.

Knop's family was joined by dozens of others, several of whom wore shirts that said "Live Like Levi." In their impact statements, Knop's family described the high school baseball star as a loving son who took school seriously and had just received an acceptance letter from Georgia Southern the weekend before his death.

"I thank God every day for the time that He had given me with Levi," Knop's father Marshall said.

Knop's family also asked the court not to sentence McBride as a first-time offender, a wish which Lanier adhered to. McBride was further ordered not to have contact with Knop's family or with any other individuals who read victim impact statements Thursday.

Knop's mother also expressed frustration with a series of social media posts by McBride in the year after Levi's death which she characterized as appearing insufficiently remorseful. 

McBride's stepfather, Jeremy Poole, said McBride was simply following her parents' advice to live her life as normally as possible.

Poole said McBride, who admitted to Lanier that she has struggled with depression, has often spoken about wishing she was the one who had died in last year's accident.

"I've seen the pain and impact that Levi's death has caused her," said Laura Elizabeth Clark, McBride's friend and college roommate.

Jon Forehand, McBride's legal counsel, said she had been advised not to reach out to Knop's family due to the legal nature of the matter, but that her actions were never meant to appear disrespectful.

Rather, Forehand said what occurred was simply the mistake of an 18-year-old girl who was running late to school

"There's no one in this room who would want to be judged by their worst possible moment," he said.

As part of her sentence, McBride's license was also revoked. She will be subject to drug and alcohol testing during her probation.

Thursday's sentencing marks the end of a nearly year-long legal drama. Many of those in attendance in the Grady County courthouse were in tears as McBride was taken into custody.

"I've practiced law for 30 years, and this is a case I will never forget," Forehand said.

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Looking forward to Baker County in the New Year!

Big SWGA trials set to go to court in a few weeks

Horace "Chucky" Ross III taking the stand in October. (Source: WALB)

By Asia Wilson | December 30, 2019 at 6:21 PM EST - Updated December 30 at 6:21 PM

SOUTHWEST, Ga. (WALB) - A retrial is in the works for a Pelham man accused of killing two men and injuring another last December.

The high profile case is set to start in two weeks.

Horace “Chucky” Ross III will be on trial for the deaths of Denarrius Johnson and Steven Freeman.

They were shot off of Cannon Street.

Ross was on trial back in October, but a mistrial was granted due to a hung jury.

He originally faced two counts of malice murder, aggravated assault and possession of a gun during the commission of a crime.

Steve Freeman, was shot in killed in Pelham back in December 2018. (Source: WALB)

After over 15 hours of deliberations, Ross was found guilty of only the aggravated assault and possession of a firearm charges.

Prosecutors said they’ll pick a new jury and Ross will be tried for the murder charge again.

“The point is there was a hung jury, so at that point, the prosecutor then can decide whether or not they want to go forward with another retrial. And in this case, I anticipate that we will, in fact, retry the defendant in this January term,” said Joe Mulholland, South Georgia Judicial Circuit district attorney.

Prosecutors said jurors had the option to find Ross guilty, not guilty or give him involuntary manslaughter for the murder charges.

The retrial will take place on Jan. 13 at the Mitchell County Courthouse.

Armed robbery suspect to stand in trial in Baker Co. for big multi-county scheme

A Thomasville man will stand trial in Baker County for a multi-county armed robbery scheme.

Prosecutors said Kealeeon Miranda is facing charges for robberies in Thomasville and Valdosta and then expanded to Baker and Decatur counties.

Prosecutors said Darrel Perry was also involved. Perry is serving two life sentences. He pleaded guilty in July to two counts of armed robbery.

Prosecutors said the armed robbery spree was massive.

“I mean it was like multiple, like three, four or five armed robberies,” Mulholland said.

Mullholland said crimes were committed in North Florida and in other Georgia counties as well.

Miranda will be on trial starting the week of Jan. 27.