A non-fatal shooting that took place just before midnight on May 15, 2024, set off a series of events that led to an alleged courtroom assault and revealed an absconded sex offender from Louisiana.
According to a report from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, on May 15, 2024, just before midnight, deputies responded to a shooting and stolen vehicle at 3415 Highway 32 West. When officers arrived, they found a victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The suspect, identified as Charles Donnell Beverly, 31, allegedly shot the victim and then stole her 2009 Cadillac CTS. The victim survived and was transported to Macon for treatment.
Deputies arrested Beverly on May 16, 2024, and booked him into the Coffee County Jail at 7 a.m. on aggravated assault and theft by taking charges.
During the investigation, officers discovered that Beverly was an absconded sex offender from Louisiana. An officer contacted authorities in Louisiana and informed them of Beverly’s arrest. Beverly had been on the run for about two years.
During interviews, according to the report, Beverly stated that he had been in Coffee County for about two months. However, officers discovered that Beverly had been hired at a local business since January 30, 2024, but had been fired about two days before his arrest. According to Georgia law, sex offenders from other states are supposed to notify the sheriff’s office of the county in which they plan to move 72 hours before coming to Georgia. They are also required to report their places of employment to the local sheriff’s office – all of which Beverly allegedly failed to do.
On May 17, 2024, during Beverly’s first appearance in magistrate court at the law enforcement center, Beverly, whose hands were cuffed, hit another inmate in the head as Beverly walked to his seat. The report states that he hit the other inmate “for no apparent reason.” Bailiffs restrained Beverly and escorted the other inmate out of the courtroom. Beverly was taken to Booking where he was charged with simple battery.
All told, Beverly ended up being charged with aggravated assault, theft by taking, simple battery, and failure to register as a sex offender. Beverly remains in the Coffee County Jail.