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Brunswick Man Convicted of Aggravated Assault in 2020 Shooting State v. Alvin Eddie Canidate

Brunswick Man Convicted of Aggravated Assault in 2020 Shooting
State v. Alvin Eddie Canidate

February 27, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that on Friday, February 23, 2024, a Glynn County jury found Alvin Eddie Canidate, 22, of Brunswick, Georgia, guilty of two counts of Aggravated Assault and one count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict as to his co-defendant, so a mistrial was declared as to his case by Chief Judge Stephen G. Scarlett Sr. A second co-defendant in the case had previously plead guilty and testified at trial.

The evidence presented at trial showed that on December 5, 2020, at approximately 5:00 pm, the defendants in the case contacted the victim via Snapchat to purchase half an ounce of marijuana the victim had advertised for sale. The victim was directed to the Risley Annex Building to meet up, where he was met by Canidate and the first co-defendant, who then directed him to a house at 3001 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, which was across the street from the Risley Annex.

Once pulling into the yard, the second co-defendant came out of the house and approached the victim’s vehicle. He sampled the marijuana and decided it was of poor quality and declined to purchase any. As he backed away, the first co-defendant walked up to the passenger side and pulled out a handgun in an apparent attempt to rob the victim. He placed the gun to the head of the victim’s passenger who managed to knock the gun away and duck down. Two shots were then fired which hit the victim. Meanwhile, Canidate reached into the driver’s side window and then pulled open the door as the victim reversed, spun away and was able to escape.

Realizing he had been wounded, the victim stopped the vehicle and switched places with the passenger who then drove him to the hospital. The victim was life-flighted to Shands in Jacksonville where he remained for approximately a month. He had to have a section of his intestines and liver removed as well as his gall bladder.

According to Chief Assistant District Attorney Nigel Lush, who prosecuted the case for the State, “There was no evidence the victim was a hardened drug dealer. He was going to college and was looking to make some extra money. But drug dealing is inherently dangerous, and he is extremely fortunate to be alive. The District Attorney’s Office will absolutely retry the remaining co-defendant. Criminals who bring violence to our communities must be held accountable no matter how long it takes.”

Sentencing in this case has been withheld until the resolution of the final co-defendant’s case. Alvin Canidate faces a possible punishment of up to 45 years in prison.

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.


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Brunswick Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Cocaine and Numerous Drug Charges State v. David Alphonso King

Brunswick Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Cocaine and Numerous Drug Charges
State v. David Alphonso King

February 23, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that David Alphonso King, 42, of Brunswick, Georgia, entered a negotiated guilty plea in Glynn County Superior Court on February 20, 2024, to numerous drug charges. King plead guilty to felony charges of Trafficking in Cocaine, Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Ecstasy with Intent to Distribute, and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and two misdemeanor charges of Possession of Drug Related Objects and a Window Tint Violation.

The facts of this case showed that on January 05, 2022, K9 Officer William Duggan of the Glynn County Police Department (GCPD) conducted a traffic stop on a White 2009 Chevrolet Impala near Johnston Street and Fourth Street in Brunswick.

Officer Duggan had a hard time seeing through the windows into the vehicle and made a passenger side approach and first spoke to the front seat passenger who was holding an open container of alcohol. Officer Duggan observed another open container of alcohol, a Corona beer, in the center console next to the driver who was later identified as the defendant, David King. Officer Duggan began questioning King, who had stated to Officer Duggan that the vehicle was not his. During questioning, Officer Duggan determined King’s driver’s license was suspended and King admitted that he had a marijuana blunt in the ashtray of the vehicle.

Officer Duggan called for assistance and a search of the vehicle was conducted. On the driver’s side floorboard was a green Crown Royal bag which had another Crown Royal bag inside of it that contained several clear plastic baggies with powder cocaine and crack cocaine. There were 11 bags of cocaine in total along with one bag of 14 multicolored pills, a small baggie of marijuana, and another bag with a white powdery substance that was a schedule I controlled substance along with two razor blades. On the defendant’s person was $317 dollars in cash found in the front pocket of his overalls in different denominations, and $80 dollars in cash in his right front shorts pocket in different denominations. The defendant also had two small bags of cocaine on his person. One with crack cocaine and one with powder cocaine. In the center ash tray was a rolled marijuana cigarette, another half marijuana cigarette and a clear baggy containing marijuana.

In the backseat of the vehicle there was a Nike backpack. That backpack had three containers inside of it. One container had $200 in cash. One container had one bag with 17 pills which were a schedule I controlled substance, 1 clear plastic bag with 29.2 grams of cocaine, 1 clear plastic bag with 14.2 grams of crack cocaine, 1 clear plastic bag with 48 MDMA or Ecstasy pills, 1 clear plastic bag with 24.8 grams of marijuana, and another bag of powder cocaine which had a weight of 15.6 grams. The backpack also had two digital scales, a marijuana grinder, and a bank card, bank paperwork, and a Georgia ID Card all of which belonged to the defendant, David King.

King was sentenced before Glynn County Superior Court Judge Stephen G. Scarlett, Jr. on February 20, 2024, to a summary total for the six counts of 15 years to serve in the Georgia Department of Corrections, and a mandatory fine of $200,000 for the Trafficking in Cocaine charge.

According to Assistant District Attorney Leland McElveen, who prosecuted this case, “Drugs continue to poison our community and our country. This was an example of great proactive policing by GCPD Officer Duggan. A simple traffic stop helped get numerous drugs off the street and to this defendant ultimately being held accountable.”

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.


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Three Brunswick Gang Members Plead Guilty to Gang Charges and Aggravated Assault State v. D’Andre Bennett; Larry Bennett & Kwalik Ratliff

Three Brunswick Gang Members Plead Guilty to Gang Charges and Aggravated Assault
State v. D’Andre Bennett; Larry Bennett & Kwalik Ratliff

February 15, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that D’andre Bennett, 21, Larry Bennett, 19 and Kwalik Ratliff, 22, all of Brunswick, Georgia, entered non-negotiated guilty pleas to charges of Aggravated Assault and Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act before Judge Stephen G. Scarlett, Sr. in Glynn County Superior Court during the week of February 5, 2024.

The evidence showed that after 12 pm on June 13, 2022, Glynn County Police Department (GCPD) responded to the intersection of Kensington Drive and Altama Avenue to a shots fired call. Through their investigation, police found security camera video from a nearby location that showed the intersection. In the video, a person was seen exiting the back of a Nissan Altima and opened fire on a Toyota Camry as it had just passed. A second individual in the backseat of the Altima leaned out of the vehicle and also opened fire on the Camry. The Camry then crashed into a utility pole and its three occupants exited and fled the scene. There were civilians traveling on both Kensington Drive and Altama Avenue at the time the shooting occurred.

Using this security video, GCPD detectives were able to track down Kwalik Ratliff, the registered owner of the Altima that the shooters were in. Once Ratliff was interviewed by detectives, they were able to locate the other individuals in the vehicle, D’Andre Bennett and Larry Bennett, with the help of U.S. Marshals.

Police discovered through their interviews with Kwalik Ratliff, Larry Bennett, and D’Andre Bennett that this was a gang retaliation shooting. D’Andre Bennett is a self-admitted member of the Rolling 60s Crips criminal street gang while Larry Bennett and Kwalik Ratliff are associates of the Rolling 60s Crips. D’Andre Bennett was the individual that stepped out of the Nissan Altima and shot at the Camry. Kwalik Ratliff was the driver and Larry Bennett had the directions on his cell phone for the location of the victims. A fourth co-defendant, Treyvon Cummings, failed to appear for court and a bench warrant has been issued for his arrest.

The occupants of the Camry were members or associates of the Gangster Disciples or “Growth and Development” criminal street gang. The Camry was found to be stolen. Those individuals have also been charged with connected shootings and thefts associated with this case. D’Andre Bennett confirmed that the intended target of the shooting was Prince Brownlee and that “shoot on sight” instructions were given for Brownlee by a high-ranking member of the Rolling 60s Crips.

According to Assistant District Attorney Taylor Herron, who prosecuted this case, “This shooting happened at noon, along one of the busiest streets in Brunswick. Innocent people were passing by the shooting as it occurred. It is fortunate none of these people were shot and no innocent person was injured. If not for the security video we may never have known what happened. Gang violence can strike anytime, anywhere, and these gang members don’t care who gets caught in the cross-fire.”

Sentencing for these three defendants has been withheld until Cummings is arrested and his case resolved. If anyone has information on the location of Treyvon Cummings, please contact law enforcement.

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.


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Two Brunswick Defendants Plead Guilty to Gang Charges, Armed Robbery and Aggravated Assault State v. Jerome Hall & Verdez KiShun Pinkston

Two Brunswick Defendants Plead Guilty to Gang Charges, Armed Robbery and Aggravated Assault
State v. Jerome Hall & Verdez KiShun Pinkston

February 13, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Jerome Hall, 18 and Verdez KiShun Pinkston, 20, both of Brunswick, Georgia, entered negotiated guilty pleas to two separate cases in Glynn County Superior Court during the week of February 5, 2024.

In the first, they both pled guilty to one count each of Armed Robbery and Aggravated Assault. In the second case, they both plead guilty to two counts of Armed Robbery, one count each of Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery and seven counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. Additionally, Hall pled guilty to one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Hall was sentenced to 13 years in prison followed by seven years on probation. Pinkston was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The sentencing judge was Superior Court Judge Stephen G. Scarlett, Sr. Because of the pleas to Armed Robbery, the prison time for both is not parolable, meaning they will have to serve every day of their prison sentences.

The evidence showed that on March 10, 2023, Brunswick Police responded to an armed robbery call at Tropic Island Grocery located on Norwich Street in Brunswick. There they met with the victim who stated he had gone into the store to cash his $800 paycheck. After he left the store, he started to drive away when a man dressed in black, wearing a ski mask and gloves, approached and pointed a handgun at his head and ordered him to pull over. After pulling over, two men demanded money from the victim. He gave them his wallet and the assailants took the $800. Additionally, one of them pistol-whipped him causing a laceration. Both assailants then fled.

The next day, Glynn County Police responded to an armed robbery call at the Druid Oaks Mobile Home Park located at on Hwy 17 in Brunswick. There police met with two victims who said they were walking towards the entrance of the Park when two black males dressed in black with masks approached them pointing handguns. Both victims gave the assailants their wallets and cell phones. They were then both pistol-whipped. Both assailants then fled. There was video footage of the armed robbery from a nearby homeowner.

Instagram photos on the account of Verdez Pinkston were located by police which showed him wearing clothing similar to clothing used by one of the assailants. Additionally, both Hall and Pinkston had been in a traffic stop the month before. Body camera video of the stop was reviewed and showed Hall wearing a jacket similar to the one worn by the other assailant from the March 11, 2023, armed robbery.

On March 14, 2023, a search warrant was executed at a residence at Perry Place Apartments. Verdez Pinkston was one of the residents of the apartment. Clothing matching that worn by the assailants of the March 11, 2023, armed robbery was located along with two handguns and ski masks.

A witness familiar with Pinkston identified him from the surveillance video based on the clothing which he was wearing. The witness had also seen him wear the clothing later that night.

Another witness familiar with Hall identified him from the surveillance video based on the clothing he was wearing. The witness had also loaned Hall her vehicle. Tracking information from the vehicle showed it at the Tropical Island Grocery shortly before the March 10, 2023, armed robbery. The tracking information also showed the vehicle at the Mobile Home Park shortly before the March 11, 2023, armed robbery.

Following their arrests, Pinkston made jail phone calls to his mother and an unknown female admitting his involvement.

Both Hall and Pinkston are identified members of the Exterminator Gang, a local gang that identifies with the Rollin 60s Crips, a nationally recognized criminal street gang.

According to Assistant DA Leland McElveen who prosecuted the case, “Criminal Street Gangs prey on the innocent in cities across the country. In Glynn County, we are working to ensure that their conduct will not be tolerated in our community.”

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.


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Gang Training Held for Area Law Enforcement Officers and Prosecutors

Gang Training Held for Area Law Enforcement Officers and Prosecutors

January 17, 2024

Pictured from left: Jose Ramirez, who is the current President of the Georgia Gang Investigators Association and  District Attorney Keith Higgins.

On January 16 and 17, the District Attorney’s Office for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit provided a gang training course to area law enforcement officers and prosecutors at the College of Coastal Georgia. Prosecutors from the District Attorney’s Office and more than 25 law enforcement officers from the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office, the Glynn County Police Department, the Brunswick Police Department, the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, the Kingsland Police Department, the Appling County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Marys Police Department, the Georgia Ports Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol attended the training, which was designed to teach the skills and knowledge needed to recognize, identify, and document criminal street gangs and their members so that criminal charges can be brought and effectively prosecuted under the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

As a sponsor for this training, the District Attorney’s Office paid the course fee for any law enforcement officer who was currently employed by a law enforcement agency in Appling, Camden, Glynn, Jeff Davis, or Wayne counties. When the application of the District Attorney’s Office for a Gang Activity Prosecution (GAP) grant from the Georgia Department of Homeland Security was denied, District Attorney Higgins decided that this training was so important that the District Attorney’s Office would pay for the training from asset forfeiture funds the Office had obtained from the civil forfeiture of money and other property that were either proceeds of a crime or were intended to be used to facilitate a crime. In providing this training, District Attorney Higgins stated that “As the gang problem continues to grow on our streets, I am committed to protecting our citizens from violent criminal street gangs and their crimes. I will continue to assist our law enforcement agencies, as best I can, to secure the training and the tools they need to effectively combat this threat to our safety and the safety of our families.”

The course was taught by renowned gang instructor and subject-matter expert, Jose Ramirez, who is the current President of the Georgia Gang Investigators Association.

For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at brunswickda.org.


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Five Defendants Plead Guilty to January 2022 Circle K Armed Robbery State v. Zaire Bue, Shalamar Burkes, Chezney Herndon, Shamya Burkes and Michelle Alexander

Five Defendants Plead Guilty to January 2022 Circle K Armed Robbery State v. Zaire Bue, Shalamar Burkes, Chezney Herndon, Shamya Burkes and Michelle Alexander

January 11, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Shamya Burkes, 18, Michelle Alexander, 18, and Chezney Herndon, 20, all of Brunswick, entered negotiated guilty pleas to Armed Robbery. Two other co-defendants, Shalamar Burkes, 20, and Zaire Bue, 22, also of Brunswick, had previously entered negotiated guilty pleas to Armed Robbery in this case. All pleas were made in Glynn County Superior Court before Judge Stehen D. Kelley. A sixth co-defendant in the case is the only one remaining to be resolved.

The facts of this case would show that on January 19, 2022, just prior to 5am, Glynn County Police responded to an armed robbery call at the Circle K gas station at 4041 Community Road in Brunswick. There they met with the clerk who said three individuals entered the store dressed in dark clothing with masks. One, a male, pointed a handgun at her while a female, took $35 from the cash register. The third individual stood at the door and directed them to also go into the safe and to take the clerk’s phone. However, the safe was inaccessible and the clerk’s phone was not taken. All of this was captured on store security video.

Police recovered surveillance video from a nearby car wash that showed a white Ford Fusion parked for several minutes prior to the armed robbery. The front seat passenger could be seen putting on blue latex gloves similar to the ones worn by the female who took the money from the cash register. Police were able to trace the vehicle registration to the mother of Michelle Alexander. Through quick investigative work, six defendants were identified and arrested within a day. All six confessed to their roles in the armed robbery. Shalamar Burkes was the gunman. His sister Shamya was the one who took the money from the cash register. Zaire Bue was the person standing at the doorway acting as a lookout and directing them to go into the safe and take the clerk’s phone. Chezney Herndon had been in the store earlier just prior to the armed robbery to “case it out” and report how many people were working. Michelle Alexander was the getaway driver who dropped everyone off in a neighborhood near the Circle K and waited for their return.

The sixth co-defendant was the one who came up with the idea for the armed robbery, assigned everyone their roles and provided the handgun to Shalamar Burkes. That co-defendant was also supposed to go into the Circle K, however backed out at the last minute, and waited for them outside the store. Some of the clothing, masks and gloves that were used were later recovered in some bushes at Azalea Place Apartments and on Old Cypress Mill Road. Also recovered was the $35 taken from Circle K which had accidentally been left in the discarded clothing. Police also later recovered the handgun that was used.

Shamaya Burkes and Michelle Alexander, who were 16 years old at the time of the armed robbery, were prosecuted as adults because of the armed robbery charge. They were each sentenced to 7 years in prison to be followed by 8 years on probation. Chezney Herndon was sentenced to 9 years in prison followed by 11 years on probation. Zaire Bue was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 10 years on probation. Sentencing for Shalamar Burkes has been deferred until the conclusion of all the cases. All of the prison sentences have to be served in full with no parole.

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.


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Three Brunswick Defendants Plead Guilty to 2021 Drive-By Shooting State v. Jaden Darby, Isaiah Miller & Michael Holland

Three Brunswick Defendants Plead Guilty to 2021 Drive-By Shooting State v. Jaden Darby, Isaiah Miller & Michael Holland

January 11, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Jaden Darby, 20, Isaiah Miller, 19 and Michael Holland, 19, all from Brunswick, entered non-negotiated guilty pleas on Monday, January 8th, to two counts of Aggravated Assault and one count of Criminal Damage to Property in the First Degree. Jaden Darby also pled to an additional count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. The pleas were entered just prior to jury selection in their criminal trials in Glynn County Superior Court.

The facts of the case would show that shortly after 9pm on November 3, 2021, the Glynn County Police Department responded to a shots fired call at a residence on Atlantic Avenue in Brunswick. The police investigation revealed that earlier that evening, the homeowner’s two daughters had been out driving with Michael Holland (who was the boyfriend of one of the girls) and a juvenile male who was also later charged in the case.

After returning to the house, one of the girls got out of Holland’s vehicle. Holland and the juvenile co-defendant saw a male who they believed was someone they had a prior issue with. Holland fired what he would call a “warning shot” from the vehicle which was apparently not heard by the male.

Holland, Holland’s girlfriend, and the juvenile co-defendant then drove to Brooklyn Homes to get Jaden Darby and Isaiah Miller to go back to the residence on Atlantic Avenue. Additional weapons were gathered and all four males along with Holland’s girlfriend, got in Miller’s vehicle. They then drove to Atlantic Avenue where Holland’s girlfriend got out of the vehicle and went into the residence. Her sister and the male, who the defendants had a dispute with, started to go towards the residence when Darby pointed a gun out of the vehicle and fired multiple shots, causing both to have to dive for cover. No persons were struck, but bullets went through the residence.

The victims were able to identify Darby as the shooter. Holland and the juvenile co-defendant confessed to their roles and implicated the other defendants.

Sentencing as to all three defendants has been deferred to a later date while a pre-sentence investigation is conducted by probation. The juvenile co-defendant was prosecuted in Juvenile Court after the District Attorney’s motion to have his case transferred to Superior Court to have him prosecuted as an adult was denied in Juvenile Court.

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.


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DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE WELCOMES NEW PROSECUTORIAL STAFF

DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE WELCOMES NEW PROSECUTORIAL STAFF

January 9, 2024

Pictured from left: Judge Stephen G. Scarlett, Sr., DA Keith Higgins, ADA Cameron Atwood, Cynthia Atwood (Mother of ADA Atwood) and Alex Atwood (Father of ADA Atwood and Former State Legislator and Retired Judge).

District Attorney Keith Higgins welcomes Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Harold “Hal” Ronald Moroz and ADA Cameron David Alexander Atwood to the prosecutorial staff of the Camden County office for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit.

ADA Moroz brings almost 30 years of legal experience and a wealth of life experience to the Camden office, having received his Juris Doctorate from the University of the District of Columbia School of Law in Washington, DC in 1995. ADA Moroz has prosecuted numerous murders and serious violent felonies in the Dougherty Judicial Circuit prior to moving to the Brunswick Circuit and has also served as a Chief Judge in the Municipal Court for the City of St Marys and as a Magistrate Judge for Camden County. ADA Moroz served as a staff attorney for the Probate Court of Gwinnett County and as a campus Vice President and Academic Dean at Florida Metropolitan University. ADA Moroz retired from the U.S. Army in 2002 as an Airborne Infantry Officer.

ADA Atwood received a LLM (Master of Laws) degree from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law in 2023 and his Juris Doctorate from Mercer University School of Law in 2022. ADA Atwood received his bachelor’s degree in history from Berry College in 2019 and has worked with various internship and legal clerk programs in both the federal and private sector.

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.


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Brunswick Man Convicted in 2022 Shooting Death State v. Rodriquez Lamont Hamilton

Brunswick Man Convicted in 2022 Shooting Death
State v. Rodriquez Lamont Hamilton

December 21, 2023

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Rodriquez Lamont Hamilton, 28, of Brunswick, was convicted of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault and two counts of Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony following a jury trial held in Glynn County Superior Court that ended on December 21, 2023. The charges stem from the November 2, 2022, shooting death of Jamarius Cowart, 24, of Brunswick, Georgia, and the wounding of Allysia Bryant, 27, also of Brunswick, Georgia. Bryant is the mother of Hamilton’s two children.

Evidence presented at trial showed that Hamilton and Bryant had been in a relationship since meeting in high school. Their relationship, as described by Bryant, was toxic. There was an extensive history of domestic violence as well as controlling behavior by Hamilton in the form of taking or damaging Bryant’s property. Hamilton also had a long history of cheating on Bryant with other women.

Six months prior to the shooting, Bryant started seeing Cowart, which angered Hamilton. On at least two occasions, he followed Bryant to Cowart’s apartment. Approximately a week prior to the shooting, Hamilton and Bryant argued over her seeing Cowart, and Hamilton punched her in the face.

On the night of November 2nd, Bryant told Hamilton she was going to church. At the time, Bryant and Hamilton were still staying in the same residence together. Instead, Bryant went to 1800 Mexican Restaurant in Brunswick to see Cowart, who was a waiter there. After Cowart finished his shift, Bryant began to drive him back to his apartment, off of Crispen Boulevard. Surveillance video from various businesses along Crispen Boulevard showed Hamilton’s silver F150 turn onto Crispen Boulevard minutes before Bryant did in her vehicle. Hamilton then parked next to the Winn Dixie and waited for Bryant to pass by. Both Bryant and Cowart noticed Hamilton’s truck and saw him begin to follow them. While stopped at a red light at the intersection of Crispen Boulevard and Old Jesup Road, Hamilton pulled alongside the passenger side of Bryant’s car. He then fired five rounds from a handgun into the open passenger side window of Bryant’s car before driving off.

Bryant, who was shot once in her buttocks, immediately called 911 and identified her “baby daddy” as the shooter. She was able to flag down a Glynn County police officer and stated the same to him as well as to other officers and detectives. Cowart was shot multiple times and was hit in his heart, lung, and spleen. He died on scene.

Following the shooting, Hamilton ditched his truck at a friend’s home and then went on the run until surrendering to police with his attorney on December 9, 2022.

According to Chief Assistant District Attorney Nigel Lush, who prosecuted the case for the State, “Sadly this is another example of the not uncommon story of domestic violence, where the violence and the controlling behavior continues to escalate. In this case it culminated in a deadly shooting. Not only did the defendant shoot the mother of his own children, but he murdered a man who had nothing to do with their relationship. The shooting in this case was premeditated and cold blooded. Mr. Cowart was the father of two children who will now grow up without their father.”

Hamilton’s sentencing was held on December 21, 2023, immediately after the verdict was announced. Several members of Cowart’s family were present and spoke of their enormous pain over their loss. Glynn County Superior Court Judge Roger B. Lane sentenced Hamilton to the maximum sentence: life in prison without the possibility of parole plus a consecutive 30 years in prison.

The case was investigated by the Glynn County Police Department with Detective Ethan Varnadoe being the lead investigator.

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.


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Brunswick Man Pleads Guilty to 2017 Child Molestation and Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison State v. Wenda Lee Collins

Brunswick Man Pleads Guilty to 2017 Child Molestation and Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes
Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison
State v. Wenda Lee Collins

December 13, 2023

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Wenda Lee Collins, 60, from Brunswick, pled guilty to one count of Child Molestation and one count of Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes in lieu of a criminal jury trial, pursuant to a negotiated guilty plea in Glynn County Superior Court on December 13, 2023.

The facts of the case would show that the Brunswick Police Department responded to a sexual assault call on September 16, 2017, involving a 12-year-old female victim. The defendant, Wenda Collins, was a close friend of the victim’s family and she considered him to be her God Daddy. Over the years, Collins had given her and her family money to pay bills and had bought her clothes and gifts. During that same time, Collins had also started to rub her legs and her buttocks, kiss her, and call her his girlfriend. On September 16, 2017, Collins picked the victim up from her home where her family was having a cookout and brought her to his home. While there he took her into his bedroom and had her pull down her pants and lay on the bed. He then removed his pants and rubbed his penis on the outside of her vagina until he ejaculated. He then took her back to her home. Once home, the victim was confronted by some family members who were suspicious of why she had gone to Collins’ home. One of her relatives then disclosed for the first time that she too had been molested by Collins as a child. The victim then disclosed to a family friend what had just happened to her.

After the defendant’s arrest, a 2004 police report was discovered where another underage girl had alleged the defendant had molested her while she lived with him with her family. No charges were ever brought in that case after the victim’s mother said she had recanted. When that victim was contacted by the District Attorney’s Office, she said she had only done so because she was fearful of being removed from her home and separated from her younger sister.

A jury in this case was picked on Monday, December 11th and trial was to begin today; however, the defendant entered his guilty plea prior to opening statements. Part of the State’s case would have included testimony by the now two adult victims as to the molestation they had endured. The victims spoke at sentencing about how Collins’ abuse had affected them, and they were relieved not to have to endure going through a trial.

Following acceptance of the guilty plea to one count of Child Molestation and one count of Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes, Superior Court Judge Roger B. Lane sentenced Collins to 15 years in prison followed by 15 years of probation. He will also have to register as a sex offender and be subject to the sex offender conditions of probation.

According to Nigel Lush, Chief Assistant District Attorney, who prosecuted the case, “All of Wenda Collins’ victims had similar stories to tell – years of grooming in the form of attention, affection, money, and gifts. In each case he eventually began to kiss them and rub on their legs and their buttocks before progressing to all manners of depraved sexual acts. Wenda Collins is a true pedophile. He was always around young girls, and we have no doubt that there are other victims out there. We hope this sentence provides these victims a measure of peace after such a long road to get to this day.”

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.


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