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Brunswick Man Convicted of Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer
State v. Joseph Michael Trutt

May 24, 2023

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Joseph Michael Trutt, 33, of Brunswick, was convicted of Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer and Possession of a Firearm during Commission of a Felony, following a jury trial that concluded on May 19, 2023.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred during the early morning hours of July 17, 2022. On that date, Glynn County Police Department Officer Mario Nichols responded to a call for assistance. Officer Nichols met with a female who wanted to get her belongings, including baby clothes, out of a house she had shared with the defendant, Joseph Michael Trutt, who was also the father of her children. The female advised Officer Nichols that she was afraid of Trutt, and she requested law enforcement assistance to stand by while she retrieved her belongings from the home.

As they arrived at the Waverly Pines area of Brunswick and were walking up the driveway toward the residence, Officer Nichols was told that Trutt was sitting in a car in the driveway. As Officer Nichols, who was wearing his marked police uniform, was turning toward the vehicle, he heard the sound of a bullet being chambered into a firearm. When Officer Nichols turned, he saw Trutt in the vehicle pointing a firearm at him, then Trutt lowered the firearm. Officer Nichols un-holstered his service weapon and instructed Trutt to put down the firearm and called for back-up assistance. After being instructed numerous times to put the firearm down, Trutt finally put the firearm down in his lap. A back-up officer arrived and retrieved the weapon from Trutt’s lap while Officer Nichols provided cover. Trutt was then placed under arrest, handcuffed and taken to the Glynn County Detention Center. The firearm utilized by Trutt was found to be a “ghost” handgun that was built by Trutt. The handgun hand a round chambered with other bullets in the magazine. The handgun was seized and placed into evidence.

The trial was held in Glynn County Superior Court and was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney T. Clifton Woody II and Assistant District Attorney Taylor Herron. Superior Court Judge Stephen D. Kelley presided over the trial where Trutt was found guilty of Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer and Possession of a Firearm during Commission of a Felony. On May 24, 2023, Trutt was sentenced by Judge Kelley to 20 years with the first 10 years in confinement and the remainder on probation for the Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer, and 5 years’ probation for the Possession of a Firearm during Commission of a Felony to run consecutive to the Aggravated Assault sentence.

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