Georgia Criminal Defense Blog

A Muscogee County Superior Court Judge sentenced a 20-year-old Columbus man involved in a shoe store robbery to 20 years in prison without the possibility of parole. Devin Harper’s sentencing came days after his co-defendant was acquitted of all charges in the case.

According to a news report posted on the Ledger Enquirer Web site a jury found Harper guilty of armed robbery after they deliberated for nearly seven hours although he was found not guilty of other charges including three counts of kidnapping and one count of possessing a firearm during the said crime which occurred on Aug. 25, 2006 at a local Foot Locker store.

Harper will also face a separate trial on pending burglary and theft charges on a different case, which will be heard next month, prosecutors said. Harper was accused of entering the Foot Locker just before closing time with other men and robbing the store while forcing three employees to the back room at gun point. Prosecutors said he and several other men robbed merchandise from the Foot Locker.

Continue reading "20 Year Sentence For Robbing Foot Locker" »

Posted by Conaway, Strickler & Margolis, P.C. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Theft Crimes

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There are no winners in a DUI-related death. A recent Georgia case illustrates that point all too well. Earlier this month, a teenager escaped with a five-year sentence after reportedly causing an accident that killed a 20-year-old woman on the Interstate 475. Bibb County Superior Court Judge Bryant Culpepper gave 19-year-old Nathan Russell Hatton the lesser sentence instead of the maximum sentence of 15 years, according to an article published in the Macon Telegraph.

During sentencing the judge made an interesting and very valid point. He told a room filled with grieving family members that he would give Hatton a life sentence if that would bring the deceased Lauren Wilder back to life. The accident occurred Nov. 4, 2006 when Wilder was on her way to work on the I-475. Hatton rear-ended her on the freeway and Wilder was ejected from the vehicle. Officials said it was likely that Wilder was not wearing her seat belt.

Several members of Wilder’s family talked about their loss – a wedding they’ll never see, grandchildren they’ll never have, memories yet to be made. On the other hand, Hatton who reportedly had a .04 blood alcohol level during the accident, told the court that he is a changed man after the accident, that he thinks about Wilder all the time and is truly remorseful for the pain and suffering he has caused her family and friends.

Continue reading "Man Gets Reduced Sentence in DUI Death" »

Posted by Conaway, Strickler & Margolis, P.C. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: DUI Defense

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Was it a “deadly sin”, a crime or just one night of stupidity? That’s the issue courts in Georgia are grappling with in the case of Genarlow Wilson, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence in this state for having consensual oral sex with a girl when they were both teens and minors.

According to an Associated Press news report a New York-based investment manager and 10 other business leaders have offered to post a $1 million bond to free Wilson, but prosecutors say the incarcerated man is not eligible for that bond.

Continue reading "Man Serving 10-Year Prison Sentence Not Eligible for Bond Under Changed Law, Court Rules" »

Posted by Conaway, Strickler & Margolis, P.C. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Sex Crime Defense

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