Author: Kristen Kitchens

The Coffee County Drug Unit busted Jonathan Vernon Pridgen and Erin Morgan Day on trafficking charges after discovering over an ounce and a half of suspected methamphetamine, multiple pills, and suspected heroin during a search of their vehicle over the weekend. Around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday night, officers pulled over Day and Pridgen for failure to maintain lane as they were entering the golf club area. Officers searched the vehicle and, with CCDU investigators and assistance from Mason Cater, one of the Douglas Police Department’s K-9 Unit officers, discovered 45 grams of suspected methamphetamine, multiple pills, and a…

The man accused of murdering his stepfather and then setting his house on fire in August has now been indicted on charges by a Coffee County Grand Jury. Officials with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation previously reported that on August 26, around 6:00 a.m., the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office received a call requesting a welfare check at a residence on Highway 32 West. Deputies arrived at the property and found the home on fire, with the deceased body of 80-year-old John Conley inside. Conley’s stepson, 52-year-old James Casey Schmitt, was taken into custody for his stepfather’s…

The state rested its case this morning in the trial of Justin Anderson, which began earlier this week in the Superior Court of Coffee County. Anderson is the first of three men charged with murder in the death of Vann Brown to stand trial. The trial began Tuesday morning and has consisted of 16 witnesses being called upon to testify by the state. The individuals included individuals who were at the property the night Brown was killed and several officials with the CCSO and the GBI. The defense was expected to call their first witness to…

The second day of the trial for Justin Anderson wrapped up late this afternoon, with seven witnesses testifying on behalf of the state. The defense is expected to call their first witness to the stand Thursday. Of the seven witnesses who testified, four were called for the first time, and all were employed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The other three individuals called by the state were witnesses who also testified Tuesday, including GBI Case Agent Jason Nipper, CCSO Lt. Detective Jamie Hersey, and CCSO Investigator Jeremy Anderson. The first witness of the day was…

A 49-year-old man, William Dewayne Tanner, was taken back to the Coffee County Jail just two days after being granted bond after he reportedly asked an officer to take him back for “what he had done” at the time of his most recent arrest. According to a copy of a Coffee County Sheriff’s Office report, on November 9, a corporal with the department was dispatched to a business on Highway 441 South in reference to a disorderly person. Upon the his arrival, he was met by the suspect, Tanner, who told him to take him to…

The state’s case against one of the three men charged with murder in the death of Vann Brown wrapped up its first day of testimony this afternoon, with a total of 12 witnesses taking the stand on their behalf. Court began shortly after 10:00 a.m., with both the prosecution and Anderson’s attorney, Robert Walker, presenting opening statements to the jury. DouglasNow reported earlier this afternoon that Cam Coffee and Annsley Coffee were the first two witnesses to take the stand, with both being questioned by Assistant District Attorney John Rumker and Walker. Court resumed around 1:00…

The first of three trials in the 2020 death of Vann Brown began this morning with the state’s case against Justin Anderson. Opening statements from the prosecution and Anderson’s defense counsel began shortly after 10:00 a.m. Two witnesses, Cam and Annsley Coffee, have taken the stand so far on the state’s behalf, both of whom were at the property the night Brown lost his life. Judge Kelly Brooks adjourned for a lunch break at noon, and the hearing resumed at 1:00 p.m. The trial is expected to continue throughout the week, with the GBI…

Several defendants were granted bonds in the Superior Court of Coffee County this week, with the majority of those being required due to their cases not being presented before a grand jury within 90 days. Four men who are accused of committing aggravated assault were denied release, along with many other individuals facing drug charges. Georgia law requires that a case be presented for an indictment within 90 days of the person’s arrest, and if the person is not indicted within 90 days, they are legally required to be granted a bond. According to an official…

A 28-year-old Axson man, Dekota Bennett, has been charged after allegedly receiving over $700 from a man whose four-wheeler he was working on, but never fixing the ATV or providing evidence of the money being spent on parts for the four-wheeler. He is also accused of stealing a boat from the man’s yard. According to a copy of a Coffee County Sheriff’s Office report, on October 27, a deputy responded to the Law Enforcement Center to speak to a man, 60-year-old Byron Gibson of Ambrose, about a possible theft. Gibson reported that he had just gotten back from picking up…

Several individuals facing felony charges pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of Coffee County this week. The majority of the defendants were facing drug possession charges, while one woman, Lashay Thrower, pleaded guilty to an aggravated assault that occurred earlier this year. Thrower was one of the many local individuals who pleaded guilty to their charges, which she received in March of this year. According to a copy of Thrower’s arrest warrant, she was booked into the Coffee County Jail on one count of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated battery. The warrant states that Thrower hit…