Author: Kristen Kitchens

The Coffee County Drug Unit arrested two on drug charges yesterday, with one of the suspects on probation and the other out on bond. According to CCDU investigators, they witnessed a suspected drug transaction yesterday afternoon on Daisy Avenue and Green Oak Street, prompting them to conduct an investigation. One of the suspects was identified as 26-year-old Matthew Mullins, who was discovered to be on probation. A search was conducted, which led to Mullins receiving charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a drug-related object. In July 2021, Mullins was arrested on counts…

In 2018, John Myron Coffee tragically lost his life at age 19 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Two months later, friends and family organized a scholarship fund and held a fundraiser in his memory. The John Myron Coffee Memorial WOD (CrossFit parlance for Workout of the Day) took place that first year and has continued each year since. Next week will be the fourth year of the competition. Coffee played football for the Coffee Trojans and wore #63. He was a true Trojan at heart. Proceeds from the event will provide a $1,500 scholarship for…

As the jury was waiting in the deliberation room just moments before the trial was expected to start, Ferlonzo Newton pleaded guilty to his charge of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. Newton was facing a 30-year prison sentence if convicted, leading him to accept the plea, which knocked 27 years off the maximum punishment he could have received. Judge Andy Spivey explained the details of the plea and the probation requirements when he is released from confinement, asking him if he wanted to continue or have the trial. Newton responded, “I don’t want it.” Assistant District Attorney…

Two of the 15 cases on the Superior Court of Coffee County’s criminal trial calendar are set to be heard by a 12-person jury Tuesday and Wednesday. While several of the defendants pleaded guilty to their charges and other cases were continued by the court, juries were selected for Newton, Harvey Jr., and a third case, this one involving Christopher Black. However, Black, facing aggravated battery, is set to plead guilty Tuesday morning. Opening statements will begin Tuesday morning in the state’s case against Ferlonzo Newton, with Gilbert Harvey Jr.’s proceeding to follow Wednesday. The defendants standing trial…

Georgia citizens wrapped up early voting last week by once again showing a record turnout of 1.8 million ballots cast before Tuesday’s Georgia runoff election for the state’s U.S. Senate seat. According to data released by the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, 6,181 ballots were cast in Coffee County during the advance voting period. Despite the state’s turnout, local numbers still only show a 28% turnout, with a total of 25,894 registered voters in the county. The release also reported that 5,901 votes were submitted in person, with 280 mail-in ballots turned in. While the state’s…

A Coffee County man was indicted 14 times by a grand jury last month for allegedly conning multiple individuals by selling numerous pieces of John Deere equipment that they never received and that he did not own. According to the indictments, the defendant, Corey James Carelock, obtained over $165,000 in the scam. The indictments claim the acts were committed between February and May this year, with Carelock receiving over $5,000 for each occurrence. Each accusation charged Carelock with theft by deception, stating that he unlawfully obtained the money “with the intent to deprive said owner of…

Trent Canady, 28, is facing more than 20 years in prison after he allegedly assaulted a woman by beating her with a pole, ripping her hair extensions out of her scalp, and striking her on the head. In a twist in the case, the victim admitted that she was not supposed to be at the residence due to a court order after she allegedly threatened to kill him in April. According to a Douglas Police Department incident report, on November 19, around 1:06 a.m. an officer was dispatched to a home on North Pearl Avenue following reports of…

Sixteen individuals with charges in Coffee County are ready to stand trial next week during the Superior Court of Coffee County’s last criminal trial week of the year. The majority of the defendants on the calendar are charged with drug offenses, while others face burglary, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault. The only man charged with aggravated assault whose case is ready for trial was arrested in 2021 after a shooting incident at the Circle K on the north end of Douglas last year. Anthony Tyrone Hudson is up against a lengthy prison sentence if convicted after he allegedly…

Samuel Ornelas of Douglas is in the Coffee County Jail after he was arrested on charges of falsely reporting a crime and possession of methamphetamine. During his arrest, Ornelas reported that people and a “new species of deer” were after him. While Ornelas was being arrested for reporting a false crime, deputies reported having found suspected methamphetamine in his pocket, which led to an additional charge. A corporal with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office reported that on November 29, around 7:21 a.m., he spoke to a woman at a residence on Sycamore Avenue who reported that her brother-in-law…

The Coffee County School System was one of more than a dozen school districts targeted in a statewide school shooting hoax yesterday, with several schools receiving calls with claims of an active shooter on their campus. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has released a statement following the widespread panic, stating that an investigation by the FBI is underway. The hoax reportedly impacted at least 14 school districts, including Baldwin, Bartow, Burke, Camden, Coffee, Glynn, Early, Lowndes, Muscogee, Richmond, Toombs, Valdosta, Vidalia, Ware, and Wayne. Several schools were placed on lockdown, and multiple law enforcement agencies were dispatched to the…