Author: Kristen Kitchens

Several individuals who were recently arrested in Coffee County will now face their charges in the Superior Court of Coffee County after they were indicted by a Coffee County Grand Jury this month. Many of the defendants whose cases were presented before the jury have made local headlines within the last few months, several being charged with aggravated assault including Latisha Brockington, Spencer Carter, James Bowen, and Ronnie Alexander. Brockington, who is represented by Valdosta-based attorney J.J. Strickland, was indicted on one count of aggravated assault for allegedly assaulting a female, Courtney Sanders, “with a firearm…

On Friday, a Broxton man, Charlie Smith Jr., pleaded guilty to a vehicular homicide that took the life of a 20-year-old father in June 2018, along with drug charges he later received in 2020. The guilty plea resulted in 15 years being knocked off the maximum prison time Smith Jr. was facing on the charges. Smith Jr., 46, was arrested on the vehicular homicide charge, along with DUI and reckless driving, in February 2019 and granted a bond the following morning. Five months later, a Coffee County Grand Jury indicted Smith Jr. on the charge, along with DUI…

Three local sex offenders were charged within the last week for probation violations after failing to comply with their offender status requirements and have all been booked into the Coffee County Jail. According to a copy of the jail roster, 35-year-old Joshua Lowe of Douglas was arrested on August 23 with one count of probation violation (sex offender failure to register). Documents show that Lowe was convicted of sexual battery in Atkinson County on May 8, 2009. This is not the first time Lowe has been charged with failing to comply with his sex offender requirements,…

Sherry Lynn Nipper of Ambrose was recently arrested by the Coffee County Drug Unit for possession charges after she allegedly stole medication and unlawfully distributed the pills. According to an incident report, on August 25, detectives served a search warrant at a residence on Raney Drive in Ambrose where a quantity of suspected Tramadol (IV), suspected methamphetamine (II) suspected Oxycodone (II) were discovered. Officials also reported that suspected marijuana and marijuana grinders were also located inside the residence. After further investigation, detectives arrested and charged 55-year-old Nipper with one count of possession of a schedule II…

Norris Moffett, who was charged with aggravated animal cruelty after shooting a 5-week-old kitten in the face in 2019, recently pleaded guilty to the charge in the Superior Court of Coffee County. Douglas Police Department officials reported that on August 17, 2019, an officer was flagged down while on patrol in reference to a kitten being shot in the face with a flare gun. The officer spoke to the owner of the kitten and was informed that their pet had suffered “significant trauma” to the right side of its face. According to the owner, an acquaintance shot the…

Devin Edwards and Candace Harper were recently indicted on two counts after they allegedly conducted a drug deal over a video call from the Coffee County Jail while Edwards was incarcerated in 2019. According to a Coffee County Drug Unit preliminary report, on July 17, 2019, two detectives were listening to jail calls and overheard a remote video chat from Harper to Edwards, who was incarcerated at the time. At one point during the conversation, Edwards is reportedly heard asking Harper if “she did that.” The report states that Harper responded that “she had and it…

Kwame Preston will now spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted of assaulting, sodomizing, and robbing a 93-year-old woman in 2018. The judge handed down the maximum sentence on Preston’s charges, which added up to more than two life sentences. Prior to the trial, Preston fired his defense counsel with the public defender’s office after alleging that he hired a private attorney. However, an attorney did not appear Tuesday morning and Preston represented himself. Assistant District Attorney John Rumker prosecuted the case, with Judge Andy Spivey presiding. The hearing began with John…

Downtown Douglas will soon be covered in gold as the Childhood Cancer Awareness Group of Coffee County gears up for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September. The organization has announced a lineup of events, with all proceeds benefiting children from Coffee County and nearby communities who are battling the disease. For the last several years, with the community’s generosity, the CCAGCC has been able to provide financial, emotional, and spiritual support to families who have a child diagnosed with cancer. Funds have been given to families to assist in travel and lodging costs for the frequent trips for…

One suspect, Ernest Knighton, has been charged in connection with the armed robbery that occurred at a local convenience store on August 17. Knighton’s arrest marks the second time since 2014 he has been taken into custody for a robbery that occurred at a business in Douglas. However, his last offense ended in a five-year prison sentence. Last Wednesday morning, officials with the Douglas Police Department released photos of two individuals accused of committing an armed robbery at the Circle K at Baker Highway and Peterson Avenue around 3:00 a.m. After the crime occurred, both suspects were…

Local court officials had an eventful morning as they prepared for this week’s criminal trials, with one defendant being held in contempt as a jury was being selected in his case for shouting during the proceeding. Another individual, Kwame Preston, also chose to fire his legal counsel and represent himself in his trial that carries multiple life sentences. Two other individuals, Carlton Speight and Tipaico Butler, will also stand trial on their pending charges this week. Jury selection was underway Monday for Leonard Lee Walton, who was charged drug possession (meth and marijuana) and willful obstruction of law enforcement…