April 24, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that on Monday, April 15, 2024, Sedrick Deshawn Pearman, 35, of Brunswick, GA, was found guilty by a Glynn County jury of Giving False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer, Obstruction of an Officer, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

The evidence presented at trial showed that on April 3, 2021, Glynn County Police Department (GCPD) Officer Troy Bergiadis, was patrolling the area of GA 27 and Warren Mason Blvd when he observed a vehicle with suspicious driving behavior. The vehicle eventually pulled into the parking lot of I-95 Liquors. Based on his observations, Officer Bergiadis decided to investigate and have a consensual encounter with the occupants. Officer Bergiadis walked up to the vehicle on the passenger side and knocked on the window. The vehicle was occupied by four individuals. Defendant Pearman was the backseat passenger behind the driver. The driver rolled down the passenger side window, and Officer Bergiadis immediately smelled the strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. GCPD K9 Officer William Duggan arrived on scene to provide backup.

At the time, the officers were just investigating the possible drug activity of which they were now aware due to the odor of marijuana. All occupants stated that there was nothing in the vehicle. Officer Duggan attempted multiple times to get Pearman to provide his full name. Pearman was the only occupant who did not voluntarily provide identification, such as a Georgia driver’s license or ID card.

On body camera footage shown at trial, Officer Duggan asked Pearman a total of 8 times to give him his name, and Pearman finally stated his last name was “James.” Officer Bergiadis had gotten the driver out of the vehicle and secured him with another GCPD officer and had returned to get Pearman out of the vehicle so that the vehicle could be lawfully searched. As Officer Bergiadis opened the rear passenger door, he observed an AK-47 style weapon at the left rear passenger’s (Pearman’s) feet, and yelled, “Gun!” At this point, the other backseat passenger fled on foot and threw a handgun on the ground along his flight path. Due to officer safety, Pearman was taken out of the vehicle, but he began resisting arrest. While on the ground, Pearman continued to resist; he managed to got out of his sweatshirt, which Officer Duggan had a hold of. He then fled on foot and was able to get away from the area. Officer Duggan ran a criminal history on Pearman and discovered he was a convicted felon. Officer Duggan secured three criminal warrants against Pearman, and he was arrested on those warrants in June of 2023.

In the meantime, a search of the suspect vehicle yielded marijuana and several illegal pills found in the center console and in the backseat. A handgun was found underneath the front passenger seat, along with the Century Arms AK-47 7.62 caliber assault pistol with a fully loaded 75-round drum style magazine found at Pearman’s feet. The original magazine was in the seat pocket in front of Pearman with another 26 rounds in it. The officers also searched the path that Pearman fled and discovered a baggie of crack cocaine (he was not charged with an offense related to that).

On April 23, 2024, Pearman was sentenced before Judge Roger B. Lane, in Glynn County Super Court, where he also had his probation revoked. Judge Lane sentenced Pearman to a total of 26 years: 12-years (total for the three charges) in the Georgia Department of Corrections under the Georgia Recidivist Act, to serve consecutive to the 14-year sentence he received for his probation violation.

The case was prosecuted for the State by Assistant District Attorney Leland McElveen, who stated, “Gun Control, no matter which side you are on, is a topic that affects us every day. This jury verdict was gun control in action. Their verdict held a previously five-time convicted felon accountable for possessing a weapon he was not allowed to have and in turn, their verdict was an example of effective gun control.”

McElveen continued, “On behalf of the District Attorney’s Office, I want to thank (now) Detective Bergiadis and Officer William Duggan for their professionalism and excellent work in getting guns and drugs off our streets, which was a result of great proactive policing. Glynn County should be proud to have these law enforcement professionals working in their community.”

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

April 22, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that on Friday, April 19, 2024, Terell Eugene Bacon, 33, of Brunswick, GA, was found guilty by a Glynn County jury of three counts of Child Molestation against a 13-year-old girl. The jury deliberated for one hour before reaching its verdict.

The evidence presented at trial showed that on September 5, 2022, Bacon—who was 31 years old at the time, a married father, and who lived in the same neighborhood as the 13-year-old victim—approached the victim while she was walking her dog in the neighborhood during the evening hours. Bacon took advantage of the fact that the girl had her phone flashlight on, deceitfully using that as a means of asking her to come over to his residence to help him look for something. Bacon seized the opportunity he created to then begin conversing with the 13-year-old victim, grooming her by complimenting her body, and then began to fondle her. Bacon and the victim exchanged phone numbers. Later that evening, the two conversed through text message; Bacon convinced the girl to sneak out of her house after she had “gone to bed,” so her parents wouldn’t know. Bacon met her nearby and picked her up in his vehicle. He drove her to a nearby gas station and then to a nearby county park where he had sexual intercourse with the girl.

The defendant continued to pursue the victim, which was evidenced through text messages and calls throughout the month of September. Bacon convinced the girl on at least two other occasions to meet up and engage in further sexual intercourse.

The victim eventually told her mother and father, and her father notified the police. Glynn County Police Department (GCPD) Detective Anthony Clark was the lead detective assigned to the case, and he set up a forensic interview with the Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center in Brunswick. During the interview, the 13-year-old victim met with forensic interviewer Deja (Moye) Lott and disclosed specific details of what occurred during the sexual abuse.

As part of his investigation, Detective Clark went to the nearby gas station and was able to gather video footage of Bacon and his vehicle on the date and near the time, corroborating what the victim told police.

Detective Clark subsequently took out warrants for Bacon’s arrest. During his post-arrest interview, Bacon downplayed his relationship with the 13-year-old child but made statements such as, “that little girl” and “you know when a girl wants you man.” He first stated the victim never got in his vehicle and then later changed his story. Bacon continued to lie throughout the interview, which was further evidenced by his story changing when confronted with his photo at the gas station. A search of Bacon’s cell phone also showed that he had the victim’s phone number listed in his phone but had changed the contact’s name to a male’s name and deleted the contact and text messages, demonstrating a consciousness of guilt.

Immediately following the jury verdict of guilty on all three counts of Child Molestation, Bacon was sentenced before Glynn County Superior Court Judge Roger B. Lane to a total of 60 years with the first 59 years to be served in the Georgia Department of Corrections. This is the maximum sentence allowable by law.

The case was prosecuted for the State by Assistant District Attorney Leland McElveen, who stated, “In today’s society, we tell children to speak out, to come forward, that they will be believed. Today, the jury’s verdict spoke the truth and held Terell Bacon, a 31-year-old predator who preyed on a 13-year-old child, accountable for his actions. I would specifically like to thank GCPD Detective Anthony Clark for his professionalism and excellent investigative work and Deja (Moye) Lott of the Safe Harbor Children’s Center for her passion for victims and her amazing testimony at trial illustrating the child victim’s trauma and disclosure.”

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

April 17, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that on April 16, 2024, an Appling County jury found Bruce Erbertlee Jackson, 35, of Baxley, GA, guilty of two counts of Felony Obstruction of an Officer with Violence.

The evidence presented at trial showed that on April 3, 2021, Stuart Boyer, then an Investigator with the Baxley Police Department (BPD), was patrolling the area of Fair Street in Baxley, GA, assisting in a response to a suspicious person call when he observed a vehicle commit multiple traffic infractions.

Boyer stopped the vehicle and found the defendant, Bruce Erbertlee Jackson, driving the vehicle. Jackson presented a non-governmental identification card identifying himself as “Ausar Tehuti El” and purported himself to be a “Moor American” and thus not subject to the laws of Georgia or the United States. While the defendant was handing the card to Investigator Boyer, the officer observed a Georgia Driver’s License in his wallet. Investigator Boyer requested to see the driver’s license and Jackson refused again stating claims of his sovereign citizenship and arguing that he was not driving, but instead ‘traveling’ and therefore did not need a license.

Jackson continued to argue with the officer and not show his license and began making furtive movements inside the vehicle and refused to keep his hands visible. Investigator Boyer determined that as a safety precaution, Jackson should exit the vehicle and he asked him to do so. Jackson refused, citing his fictious legal claims. BPD Sgt. James Robinson arrived on scene and along with Investigator Boyer, removed Jackson from the vehicle. Jackson fought against the officers and intentionally used his weight to shove them off, elbowing Investigator Boyer in the chest and knocking the wind out of him and pushing Sgt. Robinson into the vehicle, hurting his back. As Jackson fled from the officers his bracelet was caught on Investigator Boyer’s finger which was fractured in the incident leading to two years of pain and permanent damage to the way it bends. Sgt. Robinson was sent to the hospital with back pain and out of work for a week as he recovered.

At trial, Boyer and Robinson testified about the incident. Jackson, representing himself, did not testify on his behalf but did argue in his opening and closing that he did not harm anyone and that he did not need a driver’s license that night due to his alleged foreign citizenship. Assistant District Attorney Hunter Smith, who prosecuted the case for the State, highlighted the fact that a tenant of our judicial system is that all individuals should be treated equally, both in rights, and in obligations and accountability, and that despite Mr. Jackson’s claims of alleged nationality and sovereignty, no one was above the law and outside of the Court’s jurisdiction.

The Appling County jury deliberated for over two hours and found Jackson guilty of two counts of Obstruction of an Officer with Violence. On April 17, 2024, Judge Stephen D. Kelley sentenced Jackson to 10 years, with the first 5 years to be served in the Department of Corrections and the balance on probation. Jackson was also banished from the Brunswick Judicial Circuit (Appling, Camden, Glynn, Jeff Davis, and Wayne Counties).

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

March 4, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that on March 1, 2024, a Jeff Davis County jury found James Larvelle Smith, 30, of Hazlehurst, GA, guilty of one count of Burglary in the Second Degree.

The facts of this case show that on May 15, 2023, Jeffrey Ellis, an employee of Timmy Taylor, found the defendant, James Smith, in the barn at the property sitting on a Polaris ATV. When confronted, Smith indicated he was there to take the ATV. Ellis called for Taylor, and when Taylor came to the barn, the defendant again indicated he was there to take the ATV as he had purchased it from the previous owner and it belonged to him. Taylor had purchased the ATV from his daughter, so he knew this story could not be true.

Upon checking the security cameras on the property, Smith was seen moving throughout the property, looking into vehicles and into the windows of the house, and trying to open the door. The footage also showed Smith with a duffle bag and entering the barn via the back doors so as not to be seen from the house. Smith was arrested by Jeff Davis Sheriff’s Office deputies.

At trial, Smith, who represented himself, testified in his own defense and again told a fabricated story where he claimed to be the owner of the property, but when pressed by ADA Hunter Smith, who prosecuted the case for the State, Smith could provide no details or documentation of such. During his testimony, Smith admitted he went into the barn and had intended to leave the property on the ATV. The jury deliberated for under 15 minutes before convicting Smith of Burglary in the Second Degree.

Smith was subsequently sentenced to 5-years to serve in the Georgia Department of Corrections by Brunswick Circuit Superior Court Judge Roger B. Lane.

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

March 4, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Laronse Adriese Chambliss, 21, of Brunswick, GA, entered a non-negotiated guilty plea in Glynn County Superior Court on March 4, 2024, to Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony. Chambliss entered his plea just before the commencement of the trial in his case.

The facts of the case show that on December 28, 2022, the victim in this case was in Brunswick for the evening, when he went on the Grinder App to meet up with another male. The male he contacted directed him to an address on Pine Street in Brunswick. Upon arriving at the location, the victim was approached by two black males wearing face coverings. One of the men opened his passenger side door and pointed a handgun at him and demanded his wallet. The victim then sped away. As he did so, both of men opened fire on his vehicle, striking him once in the shoulder. He was able to get back to his motel and call 911.

Police located twelve shell casings at the crime scene; nine were 22mm rounds and three were 9mm rounds. During the course of the investigation, Chambliss was identified as a suspect in some unrelated cases and was questioned about the December 28th shooting case. He admitted he was present with his co-defendant in this case, who he said was the one that opened the passenger side door and started shooting when the victim fled. After initially denying he had a handgun, Chambliss admitted he had the 9mm and fired at least once shot. He said he assumed his co-defendant intended to rob the victim but denied knowing ahead of time.

Chambliss still has an outstanding armed robbery and home invasion indictment in which he is charged with his co-defendant in this case. He also has an outstanding burglary indictment.

Sentencing is being withheld until the resolution of his remaining cases, as well as those of his co-defendant. Chambliss could face life in prison for the armed robbery charge plus another 25 years for the aggravated assault and gun charges.

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

February 23, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Dayvon Clarence Eaddy, 25, of Kingsland, Georgia, entered a non-negotiated guilty plea in Camden County Superior Court on February 26, 2024, to Homicide by Vehicle in the First Degree based on reckless driving. The victim in this case, Michelle Volpe, of Brunswick, Georgia, was 26-years old at the time of her death.

The facts of this case showed that on Sunday afternoon July 12, 2020, around 1:24 pm, a fatal car collision occurred on Saint Mary’s Road near Haddock Road in Camden County. The collision involved a 2006 silver Ford Focus, driven by defendant Dayvon Eaddy, who was 22-years old at the time, and an orange 2019 Chevrolet Camaro driven by the victim, Michelle Volpe. Two passengers were riding with the defendant, a 19-year old in the back seat and a 17-year old individual who was the front seat passenger.

After arriving on the scene, Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Trooper Myles Cooper observed where the Ford had been traveling east on Saint Mary’s Road when it began to rotate and slide through the grass median and into the westbound lanes. After entering the westbound lanes, the Ford struck the Chevrolet Camaro. The Ford and Chevrolet left the roadway and entered the tree line. The driver of the Camaro, Michelle Volpe, died at the scene. The driver of the Ford was transported to the University of Florida Hospital in Jacksonville.

Witness interviews stated the silver Ford was traveling at a high rate of speed prior to impact with the Camaro. One witness, who was also a firefighter assisting at the crash scene, stated that the 17-year front passenger told him that the rear passenger was encouraging the defendant to swerve in and out of traffic.

GSP interviewed the defendant at the hospital, and Eaddy stated he swerved left, out of the right lane to miss something in the roadway and overcorrected his steering wheel. Eaddy agreed to a voluntary blood draw which was negative for alcohol or drugs. During another interview later in July, Eaddy stated he was only driving 55-60 MPH. He felt a jolt and the steering wheel snatched to the left. The car then began to slide sideways into the crash. When GSP interviewed rear passenger, he also stated that Eaddy was going 55-65MPH and lost control when he swerved to miss something in the roadway.

GSP interviewed the 17-year old front passenger who confirmed the statement provided to the witness at the crash scene and stated that the rear passenger was encouraging Eaddy to speed and swerve around other cars. When asked if Eaddy swerved to avoid something in the roadway, the 17-year old said no, that he was swerving around other vehicles and lost control and stated that the speed she observed on the speedometer was 90 MPH.

GSP Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) investigated the collision further and calculated the defendant’s speed at 108 MPH.

Pursuant to the negotiated plea agreement, Eaddy was sentenced to 15 years, serve 8 years in the Georgia Department of Corrections. The sentence was handed down in Camden County Superior Court by Judge Robert W. Guy.

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

February 23, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Neneto Blake, 35, of Auburn, Maine, entered a negotiated guilty plea in Jeff Davis Superior Court on February 26, 2024, to one count of Aggravated Assault and one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

The facts of this case show that on Sunday, October 2, 2022, Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office (JDCSO) Deputy Justin Sanders was dispatched to a residence on Lariat Lane in Hazlehurst, GA, to speak with the complainant, Cortez Eady, regarding an incident that began at church. Various other people, including members of the Eady family, were also standing around the residence when the deputy arrived to speak with Mr. Eady. Eady stated tensions broke out between his son, Dante Eady and the mother of his child, Lanyjah Lane. Threats had been made and Cortez Eady feared someone was going to come to their property. Eady stated he was going to protect his family and household.

While speaking with Cortez Eady, Deputy Sanders observed various individuals from the residence running towards Hwy 341/Saddle Drive. Lanyjah Lane, her sisters, and the defendant, Neneto Blake, who is the boyfriend of one of Lane’s sisters, had driven towards the Eady family property in a white vehicle. While stopped to confront the Eadys, Blake, seated in the back of the white vehicle, produced two firearms, and shot into the crowd of Eady family members. Fortunately, no one was injured during the shooting. The vehicle then fled the scene and was pursued by JDCSO Deputy Sanders. After stopping the vehicle, law enforcement recovered two firearms that had been tossed from the vehicle during the pursuit. A spent 9mm shell casing was also recovered from the vehicle.

Pursuant to his plea agreement, Blake was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 20 years on probation. He was sentenced as a recidivist due to three prior felony convictions in Florida and thus will not be eligible for parole. The sentence was handed down in Brunswick Circuit Superior Court by Judge Roger B. Lane. The driver of the vehicle, Chakkeria Lane, was also charged for her role in assisting Blake in fleeing after the assault. She pled and was sentenced in May of 2023.

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

February 27, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that on Monday, February 26, 2024, Kelvin Jeffrey Jones, 58, of Brunswick, GA, was found guilty by a Glynn County jury of one count of Aggravated Assault by Strangulation. The jury deliberated for only 10 minutes before reaching its verdict.

The evidence presented at trial showed that on July 8, 2020, Jones, and the victim, who was his girlfriend, had been involved in an argument that turned physical while they were staying at the Oleander Motel in Brunswick. During the altercation, the defendant dragged the victim into their room, choked her out, and hit her in the face. Jones also threw her cell phone onto the ground when she tried to call 911. The victim was able to get away to use a motel neighbor’s phone to call 911 instead. The responding Brunswick Police officers observed swelling and a cut to around her left eye, and marks around her neck consistent with strangulation. Jones had left the area prior to the officers’ arrival.

After the assault, the defendant was stopped a couple of hours later for a traffic violation. During the stop, the same officers who had investigated the prior assault asked Jones about what happened earlier that day. He stated, “all I did was choke her.” When asked to repeat what he said, he stated he grabbed her by the neck.

The victim, who remains in a relationship with Jones, did not want to prosecute the case, and denied Jones had assaulted her. When questioned by the prosecutor as to her original statements to police, she claimed she couldn’t remember.

Evidence was also presented about a subsequent assault that occurred on July 24, 2023, in which the defendant again assaulted the victim while they were living together. The victim suffered a laceration to her head and had to be taken to the hospital due to the amount of blood she had lost. The responding officer in that assault testified that the victim had told him that she had lied numerous times to cover up for the defendant.

According to Assistant District Attorney Leland McElveen Jr, who prosecuted the case for the State, “The jurors were able to see the cycle of repeated abuse the defendant committed against the victim and understood that sometimes you have to step in to help someone that can’t help themselves. In this case, the jurors returned a verdict that spoke the truth, and they held Kelvin Jones accountable for his actions as a domestic abuser.”

Sentencing is currently scheduled for Thursday, March 7th. Because the defendant, Kelvin Jones, has three or more prior felony convictions, he will be sentenced as a recidivist. The maximum sentence he could receive is 20 years without the possibility of parole.

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

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.

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.