Laurens County Grand Jury approves 45 cases

Forty-five cases were true-billed, or indicted, by the Laurens County Grand Jury in early August.

According to Dublin District Attorney Harold McLendon, people have a constitutional right to be indicted by a grand jury when serious charges are brought against them. Once a person is arrested, the district attorney’s office will prepare an indictment  and bring in an officer who has to testify to the factual basis of it. 

If the grand jury believes there is probable cause, they will bring back a true bill, which means the indictment will go forward. If they bring back a no bill, the indictment will not happen.

“In cases like murder, armed robbery and rape, all of them have to go through the indictment process,” McLendon said. “Every felony through a serious nature has to go through the indictment process. Our grand jury system is key to our whole criminal process. If we had 20 people who saw a man shot down and murdered, without the grand jury bringing back a true bill we can’t get to first base. Once there is an indictment, the case goes to a jury to see if there is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”

McLendon stressed that an indictment does not mean a person is guilty. Many things can happen.

“It’s just saying the case is worthy to go further,” the DA said. 

The following people were indicted:

• James Cecil Barber (rape, two counts of enticing a child for indecent purposes, statutory rape, aggravated child molestation and contributing to delinquency of a minor).

• Jala Ikima Beauchamp (terroristic threats and acts).

– Ellis Ray Blankenship (burglary in the first degree and theft by taking).

• Destiny Nicole Boatman (theft by taking – felony).

• Stephanie Rose Boyd (trafficking in illegal drugs and driving under the influence).

• Jahquez Jakilo Brinson (aggravated child molestation, rape and child molestation)

• Debbie Lynn Brown (theft by shoplifting).

• Robert Burch (two counts of aggravated assault, possession of firearm during commission of a felony, four counts of pointing gun or pistol at another and simple battery).

• David Howard Cooper Jr. (aggravated assault).

• Tyniaze Ari Edmond (theft by receiving stolen property).

• Darreonna Samone Ford (three counts of obstruction of an officer, two counts of simple battery, one count of theft by shoplifting and two counts of terroristic threats).

• Donnie Taz Francis (two counts of aggravated assault, one count of possession of firearm during commission of a felony and four counts of cruelty to children in the third degree).

• Joshua Bernard Hankins (two counts of aggravated battery and aggravated assault).

• Patrick Alan Hess (possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug-related objects and crossing the guard lines with drugs).

• Kiawanna Vonshay James (two counts of forgery in the third degree).

• Tydreikas Rayqyuan Joiner (aggravated assault and battery).

• Alexandra Jones (criminal damage to property in the second degree).

• Quantavis Marcius Jones (criminal damage to property in the second degree).

• Troyvon Demond King (burglary in the second degree).

• Jerriun Mikelle McMiller (five counts of financial transaction card fraud).

• Vernon McRae (terroristic threats).

• Troy Kendrick Outlaw (serious injury by vehicle).

• Malei Ryan Parrish (cruelty to children in the first degree and simple battery).

• Christopher Bernard Pullen (aggravated assault and terroristic threat).

• Brandon Ashley Reed (three counts of elude a police officer).

• Henry Ison Rouse Jr. (theft by receiving stolen property).

• Tyrell Rodriquez Stanley (theft by receiving stolen property).

• Malik Deshawn Swint (criminal damage to property in the second degree, crossing the guard lines with drugs and possession of a controlled substance).

• Reginald Lamontae Walker (battery, family violence and possession of firearm by convicted felon).

• Lawyer Fredrick Wells (trafficking methamphetamine or amphetamine).

• Jamie Lamar White (burglary in the second degree, theft by taking and criminal trespass).

• Terry Lee White (cruelty to children in the first degree).

• Jessup Trevonne Wells (two counts of child molestation, one count of aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy and enticing a child for indecent purposes).

• Willie Eugene Woodard (aggravated assault and possession of knife during commission of a felony).

• Quavon Kentae Worthen (theft by receiving stolen property, obstruction of an officer, driving without a valid license and failure to yield right of way).

• Cynthia Lourdes Wright (aggravated assault, family violence and affray).

– Jamir Antwan Wright (seven counts of stalking, one count of distributing obscene material and three counts of aggravated stalking).

– Jamir Antwan Wright (two counts of aggravated stalking).

– Kiddreakus Tyshawn, aka Kid Dreakus Tyshawn Clover (burglary in the second degree and criminal damage to property in the second degree).

• Kiddrick Dashawn Clover (burglary in the second degree and criminal damage to property in the second degree).

• Jasmine Renee Haynes (two counts of aggravated assault).

• Austin Kelly Thigpen (terroristic threats).

• Timothy Wayne Casper (five counts of cruelty to children in the second degree).

– Megan Ann Tanner (four counts of cruelty to children in the second degree and one count of cruelty in the first degree).

– Selena Mae Tanner (four counts of cruelty to children in the second degree and one count of cruelty in the first degree).

Editor’s note: The following were indicted lately by the Laurens County Grand Jury. People appearing on this list are innocent until proven guilty.