Author: Staff Reports

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,…

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,…

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,…

The GBI has arrested and charged Indian Creek Elementary School principal Anastagia Carter, 51, of Douglas, Georgia, with two counts of 1st Degree Cruelty to a Child, two counts of 3rd Degree Cruelty to a Child, two counts of False Imprisonment, and two counts of Simple Battery stemming from incidents that occurred at Indian Creek Elementary School. The GBI was requested by the Coffee County Board of Education Police Department after they received information regarding an incident between Carter and a student. During the investigation, GBI agents also learned of a second incident. Carter was taken into custody…