Author: Staff Reports

Corrections Corporations of America’s (CCA) Coffee Correctional Facility in Nicholls broke ground today for its new Inmate Vocational Training Center. The 6,300 square foot building represents a $2.1 million expansion CCA is making to the facility to accommodate new vocational programs including welding and diesel maintenance, which will be offered to inmates in partnership with the Georgia Department of Corrections and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. “We are proud of our partnership with the State of Georgia and Wiregrass Technical College to provide life-changing programming to the individuals in our care,” CCA representatives stated. The groundbreaking event complements National Reentry Week…

After a two day trial, a Bacon County jury has convicted Deion Smith, 24-years-old of Alma, for the August 9, 2009 murder of Jasmine Moore. She was 15 years of age when she was bludgeoned and stabbed to death around midnight in the E. 4th Street home she shared with her mother in Alma. After death, her body was set on fire. Jasmine’s charred remains were discovered by her mother upon her return home from work. The case was investigated by the Alma Police Department with the assistance of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office. …

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office reported the following recent arrests made during the month of March: 1.Gary Etherton was arrested and charged with one count of theft by taking. 2. Ashley Fyffe was arrested and charged with one count of theft by taking and one count of theft by deception 3. Michael Jerome Williams was arrested and charged with one count of possession of a stolen vehicle and one count of possession of marijuana. 4. Benjamin Alan Stephens was arrested and charged with one count of burglary, two counts of theft by deception and one count of theft by taking.…

A man complained of chest pains and was rushed to the hospital while authorities were investigating a public complaint against the individual. As it turns out, he was also carrying over two grams of methamphetamine. Officials with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office say The Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit was following up on complaint from the public on an individual identified as Leonard Donald Voorhees last month when they located him at the Sunoco Store, 1204 East Ward St., sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot. When detectives attempted to arrest Voorhees on an outstanding, however, the suspect complained he…

A 50-year-old Nicholls woman faces multiple felonies and other charges after allegedly ramming her ex-husband’s vehicle and attempting to run over another female victim. Sheriff’s officials report that deputies responded last week to Nicholls Rd. at the Rocky Top Rd. intersection in reference to a female subject in a white Honda who had allegedly struck a truck driven by a male subject. The male victim, identified as 53-year-old Daniel Thomas, stated the offender did not have a driver’s license and was driving recklessly when she struck his vehicle. The victim added the offender had also attempted to run over another…

Several victims were hospitalized earlier this week at the hands of one man who allegedly went on a drunken rampage at a residence in Coffee County. Deputies were dispatched to 1802 E. Highway 32 just after midnight on April 10 in reference to a male subject that was reportedly drunk and had injured several people at the home. When authorities arrived, they were advised that the alleged offender had run back inside the residence. Deputies searched the home and located the offender hiding in a closet in the basement level. Emergency medical services responded to the location to treat the…

Coffee County Sheriff Doyle Wooten released today the following information regarding drug arrests that have occurred during the month of April: April 1 – Sheriff’s deputies stopped a vehicle on Ga. Hwy. 32 at College Avenue in Douglas. The deputies noticed what they believed to be methamphetamine in the passenger’s seat of the vehicle. The Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU) was called to investigate. Subsequent to the investigation, deputies and DCDU agents seized a quantity of suspected methamphetamine and arrested Paul Edgar Harvey, age 45 , of Coffee County for possession of methamphetamine. April 2 – DCDU responded to a…

An alleged drunk driver faces numerous charges, including aggravated assault on a police officer, after leading several law enforcement agencies on a high speed chase through south Georgia Wednesday morning. Around 9 a.m. Wednesday, Coffee County E-911 was notified to be on the lookout for a vehicle involved in a gas drive off from Telfair/Wheeler 911. A Coffee County deputy observed a vehicle in the area of the Douglas/Broxton Hwy. and the 206 Connector that met the description of the lookout that was given. The deputy observed the vehicle had an illegal license tag bracket affixed to the license plate…

Congratulations to the Citizens Christian Academy tennis team on their recent region championship! The following students placed in the region tournament that was played on Monday: Graceanna Griffis – Girls singles region championSara Walker – Girls singles region runner upTyler Corsa and Drew Robinson – Boys doubles runner up Graceanna Griffis and Sara Walker will advance to state to compete in the girls singles on Monday, April 18 in Macon. The girls team advances to state in Macon on Thursday, April 21.

Jose Alberto Sandoval-Moya, formerly of Douglas, was convicted recently in federal court on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine weighing more than 50 grams. The verdict was returned in United States District Court in Albany, Georgia, before the Honorable W. Louis Sands, Senior United States District Judge. The conviction exposes Sandoval-Moya to a potential sentence of 10 years to life in prison. Evidence presented during the trial showed that Sandoval-Moya conspired with Raymond Riviera Cortez, also of Douglas, and Corrinne Gillis of Fitzgerald to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The evidence further revealed…