District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Timmy Wallace Stafford, 58, of Brunswick, pled guilty to Entering an Automobile (2 counts), Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, Theft by Taking – Motor Vehicle and Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon, pursuant to a negotiated guilty plea entered in Glynn County Superior Court on February 13, 2023.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred during the early evening hours of February 20, 2021, when Glynn County Police were called to Ole Times Country Buffett on Scranton Road in Brunswick because a man, later identified as defendant Timmy Stafford, was attempting to enter automobiles in the parking lot by pulling on door handles. The officers were told that the man had taken something out of a gold SUV and then entered a white vehicle. Responding officers attempted to make contact with the man (Stafford), who was driving a white Chevrolet Cruze later identified as belonging to his mother. When the officers activated their emergency lights and siren to stop the vehicle, Stafford accelerated, exited the parking lot and fled from the officers. Stafford attempted to elude officers by running stop signals and driving on the wrong side of the road, and eventually ended up in the Winn-Dixie parking lot off of Perry Lane Road, where he jumped out of the car while it was still moving and ran into the wooded area towards Turtle Creek. Officers were able to safely stop the vehicle Stafford was driving, but could not locate Stafford at that time.
A search of the vehicle abandoned by Stafford yielded a purse and several wallets, one of which belonged to the individual whose SUV was entered into earlier in the Ole Times parking lot. Later that evening, around 10:45pm, another citizen who lived near Turtle Creek reported that his Honda Accord was stolen and his Ford Ranger was entered and a handgun stolen. This incident was captured on video surveillance. A few hours later, around 1:00am (on February 21st), police were called to Brandenberry Road in Brunswick following a citizen’s report that someone was on her property trying to enter her two vehicles. This incident was also captured on video. Shortly thereafter, officers observed Stafford, who fled at a high rate of speed in the stolen Honda Accord and wrecked the vehicle. Stafford was subsequently arrested and the property stolen earlier was recovered. Stafford was found to have 12 prior felony convictions, for mostly theft-related offenses.
On February 13, 2023, Stafford pled guilty to Entering an Automobile (2 counts), Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, Theft by Taking – Motor Vehicle and Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon. Glynn County Superior Court Judge Stephen G. Scarlett, Sr., sentenced Stafford to a total of twelve (12) years to serve in the Department of Corrections followed by 5 years’ probation.
Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.
