Author: Staff Reports

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…

Coffee County sheriff’s authorities are hoping images captured on store surveillance cameras will help to identify a man wanted in connection to a robbery that occurred early Friday morning. Around 2:15 a.m. on April 8, deputies responded to 9321 Hwy. 32 W. (Jet Foods) in reference to an alarm call, where they discovered the front door appeared to be off the hinge. Detectives were called to the scene and obtained video that showed a black male forcibly entering the store and removing several items. The offender looked to be at least six feet tall with a slender build and was…

Douglas is set to get a major transportation facelift. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) announced Thursday the awards of 31 contracts for statewide construction projects totaling over $146.6 million. These projects were advertised for bids in March and awarded on April 1. Among the awards, Coffee County claimed the highest value investment for all projects. The Douglas project consists of the widening of 2.7 miles on S.R. 135 (Bowens Mill Rd.) and is valued at $31.2 million. The project begins at U.S. 441/S.R. 31 and extends to S.R. 32. It also includes the construction of a bridge over the…

The wife of Bacon County State Court Judge Kenneth Futch was arrested Wednesday and charged with allegedly shooting her husband during an incident that occurred Tuesday night in Alma. Officials with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Douglas Regional Office and the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office charged 53-year-old Sheila Lee Futch with one count of aggravated assault. Mrs. Futch, a teacher at Bacon County Elementary School, was arrested and transported to the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office. Bacon County deputies responded to 216 Port’s End Lane in Alma around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in reference to a report of a shooting, where they…

Douglas entrepreneur and inventor Paul Pow was recently award $10 thousand on national television to promote his company, Pow HiSo, and his 3D emoji jewelry. Pow appeared on The Steve Harvey Show in a segment entitled The Next Big Success. In a post to his personal Facebook page, Pow wrote, “I want to thank everyone for their amazing support and heartwarming messages. Today has been an awesome day. When I first started this project, I was very hesitant. That voice inside my head (we all have one) telling me things like: “nobody would wear that”, “you know nothing about jewelry…

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public’s assistance in locating the following sex offenders: Name: Joshua Adam LoweDescription: WM/ 508/240 lbs./ Strawberry Blonde Hair/ Brown Eyes/ DOB 12-26-1986Charge: Sexual Battery Lowe was convicted on May 9, 2009 in Atkinson County Superior Court. His last known address was 93 Newkirk Lane, Lot 7, Douglas, Ga. Name: K-tarian Doncoy BigelowDescription: BM/ 601/155 lbs./ Black Hair/Brown Eyes/ DOB 08-05-1997Charge: Aggravated Child Molestation Bigelow was convicted on Nov. 24, 2014 in Lowndes County Superior Court. His last known address was 93 Newkirk Lane, Lot 11, Douglas, Ga. Bigelow may be in the…

Two absconded sex offenders who were being sought by the sheriff’s office have been located and are currently incarcerated at the Coffee County Jail. Paul Davy Taft, who was being sought for failure to register address change of a sex offender, turned himself in to authorities at the Coffee County Jail on March 15. Taft is currently incarcerated, awaiting trial on the failure to register charge and a probation violation. Gregory Wayne Lott was arrested on March 24 by Coffee County deputies for several outstanding warrants, including failing to register address change of a sex offender, a bench warrant through…

Nicholls police are attempting to identify and locate a man caught on video during a recent armed robbery. Sunrise Express, 700 Van Street Hwy., was robbed by an unknown male on March 26, and police are asking for help from the community in identifying the person in this video. Anyone with information that could assist in the case is asked to contact the Coffee County Sheriffs Office at (912) 384-4227 or the anonymous Tips Line at (912) 383-8477 (TIPS). Video courtesy, ‘Coffee County Ga. Police Scanner’ on Facebook

A 16-year-old juvenile has been arrested in connection to the robbery of a Douglas convenience store that occurred earlier this week. Just prior to 3 a.m. on March 29, officers responded to Aden’s Minit Mart, 1020 East Baker Hwy., in reference to a report of robbery and assault. A store employee stated two unknown black males entered the location, punched the employee, and demanded money. The offenders fled the area after taking an undisclosed amount of cash. Officials with the police department reported the arrest of one suspected offender on Friday and stated the individual is currently incarcerated at a…