Author: Staff Reports

A Wilcox County man has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to 40 counts of possessing dogs for the purposes of an animal fighting venture. The case followed an investigation spanning multiple Georgia counties and resulted in the rescue of 40 dogs. Bernard Wallace, 54, of Rochelle, Georgia, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, fined $4,000 and ordered to serve three years of supervised release, according to an October 27, 2026, announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court…

WAYCROSS, Ga. (October 24, 2026) — More than four years after a 17-year-old Douglas teenager died following an altercation at a state-run juvenile detention facility, the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice has agreed to pay $4.5 million to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by his parents. Loyce Tucker, 17, died on August 11, 2022, two days after suffering a serious neck injury during what investigators described as a “fight game” at the Waycross Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC). The settlement was announced October 21 by the Savannah law firm Savage, Turner, Pinckney, Savage, Sprouse & Gilluly, which represented Tucker’s family.…

VIDALIA, Ga. — A former Vidalia Police Department sergeant has been arrested following an investigation into allegations that he improperly accessed a law enforcement license plate reader system. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Monday, October 19, that Santonio Wilcher, 37, of Lyons, was arrested and charged with two counts of Misuse of a License Plate Reader System and one count of Violation of Oath of Office. According to the GBI, the investigation began after the Vidalia Police Department conducted an internal audit of its Flock Safety system. On October 14, the department requested GBI assistance in investigating allegations of…

A traffic stop in Coffee County led to the discovery of approximately 13 pounds of suspected methamphetamine and a subsequent search warrant in Bacon County, where investigators reported seizing additional illegal drugs, a firearm and more than $25,000 in cash. According to the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation involved cooperation between the Broxton Police Department and the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit. On October 12, 2026, officers with the Broxton Police Department stopped Cleavanta Jerrideau, 34, of Alma, for a traffic violation. According to reporting by WALB, Broxton Police said the stop began when an officer observed that…

TOOMBS COUNTY, Ga. — A 76-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with murder following a shooting Monday afternoon in Toombs County that left two people dead and a third injured. Grace Edge, 76, has been charged with two counts of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, and three counts of aggravated assault in connection with the October 19 shooting, according to reports citing local authorities. The victims have been identified as Wallace Truman Edge, 75, and Pamela Cook, 40, both of whom died at the scene. A third person, Diane Cook, 55, sustained a gunshot wound that authorities…

Alma, Ga. — An investigation involving a former Bacon County School District employee has resulted in an arrest, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). The GBI announced Tuesday, October 13, that Jerry Alvin Sweat, 70, of Alma, has been arrested and charged with Exhibiting Harmful Materials to Minors. The arrest follows an investigation that began October 7, when the Bacon County School District Police Department requested assistance from the GBI concerning allegations involving a former school bus monitor. According to investigators, Sweat is accused of displaying pornographic material to children under the age of 16 while working as…

Alma Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is investigating an incident involving a former Bacon County School District employee after an internal district investigation resulted in the employee’s termination. According to a statement from the school district, officials became aware of an incident involving an employee and initiated an internal investigation. The district said the investigation resulted in the employee’s termination. The matter was subsequently reported to the Bacon County Schools Police Department, and the GBI was requested to assist with the investigation. The GBI confirmed to WJCL on October 12 that Bacon County Schools Police had requested…

EASTMAN, Ga. — A registered agent of an Eastman-based forestry company is facing a timber theft-related charge following an investigation by the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC). According to a news release issued Thursday, October 8, Christopher Bradley Branch, a registered agent of Branch Forestry Co., LLC, was arrested September 1, 2026, by Georgia Forestry Commission law enforcement officers. Branch has been charged with Failure to Pay for Natural Products or Chattels, under Georgia law O.C.G.A. § 16-9-58, in connection with a timber harvesting transaction. The offense carries a potential prison sentence of one to five years if convicted. A court…

WHEELER COUNTY, Ga. — New information has been released in connection with a fatal hunting-related shooting in Wheeler County over the weekend, including the identity of the 23-year-old man who died. According to a Georgia Department of Natural Resources incident report obtained by WGXA, the man who died has been identified as Thomas “Cooper” Hartley, 23, of Glenwood. Howard “Benji” Hartley, 57, of Glenwood, faces felony involuntary manslaughter and hunting-related charges in connection with the death. Wheeler County School Superintendent Dr. C. Alex Alvarez confirmed to 13WMAZ Tuesday that Howard Hartley serves as Dean of Students at Wheeler County High…

Reynolds IGA Foodliner, Inc., the company that operates the Piggly Wiggly store in Hazlehurst, has agreed to pay $65,000 to settle a federal religious discrimination lawsuit involving a former employee who requested Sundays off to observe her Sabbath. The lawsuit was filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in June. According to the agency, the employee worked as a deli clerk at the Hazlehurst Piggly Wiggly and is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The EEOC alleged that shortly after being hired, the employee requested Sundays off so she could observe her weekly…