Author: Staff Reports

It’s now officially Judge Katy Paulk. Tuesday afternoon at the Capitol, Gov. Brian Kemp swore in Katy Paulk as Coffee County’s new State Court judge. She replaces Judge Bob Preston, who retired from the State Court bench in December of last year after 18 years. Paulk has served as Solicitor General of Coffee County since 2012. She also served as a Solicitor for the Municipal Court of Douglas, where she prosecuted all misdemeanor cases. Previously, she served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Waycross Judicial Circuit and continues in this role on a part-time basis, aiding…

It’s now officially Judge Katy Paulk. Tuesday afternoon at the Capitol, Gov. Brian Kemp swore in Katy Paulk as Coffee County’s new State Court judge. She replaces Judge Bob Preston, who retired from the State Court bench in December of last year after 18 years. Paulk has served as Solicitor General of Coffee County since 2012. She also served as a Solicitor for the Municipal Court of Douglas, where she prosecuted all misdemeanor cases. Previously, she served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Waycross Judicial Circuit and continues in this role on a part-time basis, aiding…

Convicted double murderer Wallace Lee’s motion for a new trial has been denied. Lee has been serving two life sentences without the possibility for parole for the November 2015 murders of Meghan Bowen, 33, and Carlos Harden, 39. He was convicted of the murders in October of 2017. On March 1, Judge Andy Spivey began hearing the motion. The motion alleges that the guilty verdicts were contrary to the evidence and contrary “to the law and principles of justice and equity, among other reasons.” It also alleges that the Lee’s attorney “committed ineffective assistance…

Convicted double murderer Wallace Lee’s motion for a new trial has been denied. Lee has been serving two life sentences without the possibility for parole for the November 2015 murders of Meghan Bowen, 33, and Carlos Harden, 39. He was convicted of the murders in October of 2017. On March 1, Judge Andy Spivey began hearing the motion. The motion alleges that the guilty verdicts were contrary to the evidence and contrary “to the law and principles of justice and equity, among other reasons.” It also alleges that the Lee’s attorney “committed ineffective assistance…

Convicted double murderer Wallace Lee’s motion for a new trial has been denied. Lee has been serving two life sentences without the possibility for parole for the November 2015 murders of Meghan Bowen, 33, and Carlos Harden, 39. He was convicted of the murders in October of 2017. On March 1, Judge Andy Spivey began hearing the motion. The motion alleges that the guilty verdicts were contrary to the evidence and contrary “to the law and principles of justice and equity, among other reasons.” It also alleges that the Lee’s attorney “committed ineffective assistance…

A traffic stop on East Walker Street landed one man in jail after officers discovered suspected illegal drugs in the vehicle. According to an incident report from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, detectives with the drug unit saw a vehicle make an improper turn at 110 East Walker Street. The detectives stopped the vehicle and found five grams of methamphetamine, six grams of crack cocaine, and three grams of marijuana. An occupant in the vehicle, Milton Gainey, was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute,…

A traffic stop on East Walker Street landed one man in jail after officers discovered suspected illegal drugs in the vehicle. According to an incident report from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, detectives with the drug unit saw a vehicle make an improper turn at 110 East Walker Street. The detectives stopped the vehicle and found five grams of methamphetamine, six grams of crack cocaine, and three grams of marijuana. An occupant in the vehicle, Milton Gainey, was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute,…

Douglas Police Chief Shane Edmisten has accepted the police chief’s position in Lavonia. His last day with the Douglas Police Department is March 14. Lavonia is a small town of about 2,200 located 42 miles northeast of Athens. “I would like to thank the officials and the citizens of Douglas for their support over the last four years. I have been honored to serve this community during that time and I believe together, we have made a tremendous difference for the better in Douglas and Coffee County. I will cherish the relationships and partnerships we forged together, and…

Douglas Police Chief Shane Edmisten has accepted the police chief’s position in Lavonia. His last day with the Douglas Police Department is March 14. Lavonia is a small town of about 2,200 located 42 miles northeast of Athens. “I would like to thank the officials and the citizens of Douglas for their support over the last four years. I have been honored to serve this community during that time and I believe together, we have made a tremendous difference for the better in Douglas and Coffee County. I will cherish the relationships and partnerships we forged together, and…

Katy Paulk is Coffee County’s new State Court Judge. Gov. Brian P. Kemp has announced his appointments to the following judicial posts: the Honorable Ryan Hope to the State Court of Clarke County, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable Ethelyn Simpson; Claire Chason and Lawton Heard to the South Georgia Judicial Circuit, filling vacancies created by the resignation of the Honorable Kevin Chason and the passage of House Bill 624; District Attorney Chris Arnt to the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable Ralph Van Pelt,…