District Attorney Marilyn Bennett announces the recent outcomes of several cases her offices has tried in the Waycross Judicial Circuit which covers Bacon, Brantley, Charlton, Coffee, Pierce, and Ware Counties:
Mason Concepcion, 30, of Alma, was convicted by a Bacon County jury for Aggravated Child Molestation which stemmed from 2021 allegations involving a child victim over the age of 10. Satilla Advocacy Services in Waycross conducted forensic and medical exams on the child as part of the investigation led by Detective Liborio Saavedra with the Alma Police Department, all of which was entered into evidence at the trial. Judge Andrew Spivey presided over the case. ADA Jacob Kirkland represented the State. After the verdict was reached, Spivey sentenced Concepcion to 50 years in prison, followed by life on probation.
Demyjae Manley, 19, of Douglas, was convicted by a Coffee County jury for Armed Robbery and Aggravated Assault. In 2021, Manley pointed an AR-style firearm at a minor trying to sell Manley an XBox. Chief Judge Dwayne Gillis presided over the case prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Morgan Kirkland. Gillis sentenced to serve 12 years in prison, followed by 18 years on probation. Sgt. Brandon Haygood and the Douglas Police Department led the investigation on this case bringing it to a resolution.
David Naves, 32, of Nahunta, was recently convicted by a Brantley County jury for Driving under the Influence and Obstruction of an Emergency Medical Personnel (EMT). The charged stemmed from a single vehicle accident in June of 2021, where Naves fled the scene in a wooded area of Brantley County. Once officers and paramedics arrived, Naves fought with one of the EMTs on the scene. The jury convicted Naves after considering the evidence and watching body camera footage of the incident recorded by a Brantley County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Judge Kelly Brooks presided over the trial, while ADA Rocky Bridges represented the State. Brooks sentenced Naves to 5 years, with the first 30 months to be served in prison. The Georgia State Patrol assisted the BCSO with the investigation.
Matthew McCloskey, 34, of New York (but living in Waycross at the time), was convicted by a Ware County jury for Aggravated Assault on a Peace Office, Aggravated Assault, Kidnapping, False Imprisonment, and Possession of a Knife During the Commission of Certain Felonies. ADA Ian Sansot represented the State, while Judge Jeffrey Kight presided over the trial. McCloskey has a pending federal charges for a September 2022 bank robbery in Waycross. After the bank robbery McCloskey is alleged to have committed, the State presented evidence that he went to hide in a hotel room with his girlfriend. Once officers found McCloskey, he refused to come out of the hotel room. Officers heard a female screaming for help. McCloskey would not allow her to leave the room. From a hotel window, officers saw McCloskey holding a knife to her and barricading the door with furniture. Officers forced their way into the room. McCloskey raised his knife at Sgt. Joshua Prall with the Waycross Police Department endangering his life. After being tased by 3 officers, he dropped the knife and fell to the ground. Chief Tommy Cox recently recognized Prall for his bravery and quick thinking. Kight is expected to sentence McCloskey later this month. He is facing up to 75 years.
In addition to the recent trials, Ginger Oxford, 47, of Waycross, pled guilty to Cruelty to Children in the 2nd Degree, for failing to seek medical attention for a minor at a 2019 New Years’ incident which led to severe brain injuries suffered by a 15 year old minor. Oxford pled without a negotiated plea agreement. Kight sentenced her to serve 3 years in prison, followed by 7 years on probation. She was taken into custody immediately despite having been out on bond since the original incident.
District Attorney Marilyn Bennett thanks all of the law enforcement agencies, community partners, and those involved in the investigations of these cases and each juror who served across our circuit in trials over the past month.