Joey Anderson and David Spivey, both of whom were charged with embracery and jailed in connection with Justin Anderson’s November trial on murder, aggravated assault, making false statements to police, and tampering with evidence charges in connection with the January 1, 2020, death of Vann Brown, have been released on $50,000 bond. Their bonds were set Thursday and they were released Friday afternoon. Joey Anderson is Justin Anderson’s father.
Last month, both Anderson and Spivey were jailed after the Coffee County Grand Jury indicted them for embracery (Georgia’s official term for jury tampering). Joey Anderson was jailed on March 14; Spivey was jailed the following day. The indictment reads that “between the 6th day of October, 2022, and the 13th day of November, 2022 . . . with the intent to influence Johnny Spivey, a person summoned as a juror, in the case of the State of Georgia v. Justin Anderson, communicated with said juror otherwise than authorized by law, in an attempt to influence his action as a juror, by communicating with him through David Spivey, the juror’s brother, telling him not to vote in favor of a guilty verdict, Contrary to the laws of said State . . .”
According to Joey Anderson’s indictment, he allegedly contacted David Spivey, the brother of Johnny Spivey, a potential juror in Justin Anderson’s trial, and asked him to tell Johnny to vote to acquit Justin if Johnny was selected as a juror. David Spivey’s indictment indicates that after Joey spoke with David, David conveyed the message to Johnny. During jury selection, Johnny Spivey mentioned this exchange in open court, which led to the indictments five months later.
Both Joey Anderson and David Spivey were given the same stipulations on their bonds, most of which were fairly standard. However, the court did instruct them not to contact any juror, prospective juror, or family member of a juror or prospective juror and not to solicit, aid, encourage, or request anyone else to contact a juror, prospective juror, or family member of a juror or prospective juror. The bond order also states that if either defendant has any incidental contact with a juror or prospective juror, he must report the encounter to the sheriff’s office within 12 hours.
Another of Joey Anderson’s son, Jason Anderson, is set stand trial on July 31, 2023, on charges of murder aggravated assault, making false statements to police, and tampering with evidence in connection with Brown’s death.