April 19, 2023

Beginning in 1981, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week was established to provide an opportunity to raise awareness of victims’ rights. This year National Crime Victims Week will be commemorated the week of April 23th –April 29th, 2023. District Attorney Keith Higgins and the employees of the Victim-Witness Assistance Program encourage our communities to embrace this year’s theme: SURVIVOR VOICES – ELEVATE. ENGAGE. EFFECT CHANGE. This year’s theme calls upon communities to amplify the voices of survivors and commit to creating an environment where survivors have the confidence that they can be heard, believed, and supported.

Originally established by President Ronald Reagan, the project has grown to teach the community about the effects of victimization and the need for services for those who are affected. At the time of the first Crime Victims Rights’ week, most states did not have formalized legal rights for victims. Services were scant and mostly word of mouth. Victims were not informed of court proceedings and were largely left out of the criminal justice process. The Crime Victims Bill of Rights and later, Marsy’s Law, have better defined and legalized the rights of those victimized by crime.

The Brunswick Judicial Circuit will have a Memorial Wall at each Courthouse in the Circuit on display the entire week. Families and friends are encouraged to drop by and write in the guestbook that will be on display along with photos of loved ones lost. Each county will also have a program that can be attended by community members, families and friends.

The Wayne County program will be held April 26th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Wayne County Courthouse, located at 145 North Brunswick Street, Jesup, Georgia.

The Camden County program will be held April 27th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Camden County Courthouse located at 210 E. 4th Street, Woodbine, Georgia.

The Appling County program will be held April 24th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Appling County Public Safety Complex located at 560 Barnes Street, Baxley, Georgia.

The Jeff Davis County program will be held April 25th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Jeff Davis County Courthouse located at 14 Jeff Davis Street, Hazlehurst, Georgia.

The Glynn County program will be held April 28th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Glynn County Courthouse located at 701 H Street, Brunswick, Georgia.

April 19, 2023

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that William Leslie Kehoe, 33, of Brunswick, was found guilty of Child Molestation and Sexual Battery Against a Child Under 16 Years, following a jury trial which concluded on April 13, 2023.

On April 19, 2023, Glynn County Superior Court Judge Roger B. Lane, Sr. sentenced Kehoe to 15 years serve 10 years in the Georgia Department of Corrections with the remaining 5 years on probation for the Child Molestation charge and 5 years on probation for the Sexual Battery charge, to run concurrent with the probation sentence for the Child Molestation.

The charges stem from an incident that came to light in November of 2015, when the 3-year old victim’s great-grandmother made observations and noted behaviors that were unusual for a child of that age.

Following notification to law enforcement, an investigation headed up by Investigator Stephanie Oliver, Glynn County Police Department (GCPD), was conducted. A forensic interview of the child revealed that the defendant, Kehoe, had touched the child numerous times. When the defendant was interviewed, he admitted touching the child’s genitals on many occasions, but denied it was on purpose or done in a perverted way, claiming that it happened during wrestling and playing around with the child.

The case against Kehoe was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney T. Clifton Woody, II. The trial was presided over by Superior Court Judge Roger B. Lane, Sr., in Glynn County Superior Court. Judge Lane will sentence Kehoe within the next two weeks. Kehoe is facing a possible 25 years to serve – 20 years for the Child Molestation and 5 years for the Sexual Battery Against a Child Under 16 Years.

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

April 14, 2023

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that William Leslie Kehoe, 33, of Brunswick, was found guilty of Child Molestation and Sexual Battery Against a Child Under 16 Years, following a jury trial which concluded on April 13, 2023.

The charges stem from an incident that came to light in November of 2015, when the 3-year old victim’s great-grandmother made observations and noted behaviors that were unusual for a child of that age.

Following notification to law enforcement, an investigation headed up by Investigator Stephanie Oliver, Glynn County Police Department (GCPD), was conducted. A forensic interview of the child revealed that the defendant, Kehoe, had touched the child numerous times. When the defendant was interviewed, he admitted touching the child’s genitals on many occasions, but denied it was on purpose or done in a perverted way, claiming that it happened during wrestling and playing around with the child.

The case against Kehoe was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney T. Clifton Woody, II. The trial was presided over by Superior Court Judge Roger B. Lane, Sr., in Glynn County Superior Court. Judge Lane will sentence Kehoe within the next two weeks. Kehoe is facing a possible 25 years to serve – 20 years for the Child Molestation and 5 years for the Sexual Battery Against a Child Under 16 Years.

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

March 28, 2023

The District Attorney’s Office is aware of the incidents that occurred with regard to Trent Lehrkamp. We have met with the law enforcement agencies that are investigating the matter, and we continue to communicate with them as they are working to gather all the available facts and evidence. As the facts become known, we are researching criminal statues and procedures so we can determine what laws are applicable to the facts.

Our objective is the discovery of the truth and the proper application of the law to those facts. This requires a thorough and complete investigation by law enforcement that does not merely rely upon what is posted on social media. This takes time.

As the investigation proceeds, the District Attorney’s Office will continue to confer with law enforcement to monitor the status of the investigation and provide legal advice. Once a complete and thorough investigation has concluded, my office will review all of the evidence and determine the appropriate course of action. We will not make a decision until we know all of the facts and we can determine what can be proven by admissible evidence in a court of law.

After the District Attorney’s Office decides what action should be taken, we will publicly announce our decision and explain the factual and legal basis for the chosen course of action. At the appropriate time, a redacted copy of the investigative case file will be posted on our website at brunswickda.org under the tab for “Special-Interest Cases” so the public can review the facts for themselves.

While we understand the public interest in this case, we urge everyone to be patient and allow the investigation to take its due course. There is much misinformation about the matter on social media, and we ask you to not assume that social media posts are the actual facts of the case. The District Attorney’s Office pledges to be as transparent as possible as this case moves through our judicial system.

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

March 17, 2023

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Ron Adams Weeks, 42, of Brunswick, was convicted of False Imprisonment, Felony Stalking, and Sexual Battery, following a jury trial in Glynn County Superior Court which concluded on March 7, 2023. Sentencing in this case was deferred until March 17, 2023.

The charges stem from a series of incidents that began in April of 2021 when the defendant, Ron Adam Weeks, went to a county office and was assisted by the victim, a Glynn County employee. Following that initial interaction, Weeks began to come by the county employee’s office on a regular basis and not leave her office. Weeks would also harass her with telephone calls and would wait for the victim outside of her office and follow her to her vehicle. The victim’s supervisor told Weeks he was to have no contact with the victim and to stay away from the office. The situation evolved to the point where the victim had to take out a good behavior warrant to keep Weeks away from her. Following the expiration of the warrant, on July 12, 2021, Weeks again went to the victim’s office. After checking the area to see if anyone else was in or near the victim’s office, Weeks entered her office, would not leave and followed her around. At one point, Weeks got behind the victim, pushed her against a table, reached under her skirt, ran his hand up her leg and touched her vagina. Weeks then moved her towards another area and detained her until she was able to distract him by telling him that there were cameras watching him. The victim then got away from the defendant and ran to another person in the building and asked for help to call 911. The incident was investigated by the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office.

Weeks appeared before Judge Stephen G. Scarlett, Sr. in Glynn County Superior Court on March 17, 2023, where he was sentenced as a recidivist for a total of 20 years serve 15 years in the Department of Corrections (DOC) without parole and 5 years on probation.

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

March 14, 2023

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Torrance Markale Jones, 39, from Brunswick, pled guilty to two counts of Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Knife during Commission of a Felony, and two counts of Cruelty to Children in the Third Degree, pursuant to a negotiated guilty plea entered in Appling County Superior Court on March 9, 2023.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on January 27, 2022, when the defendant, Torrance Jones, entered a residence in Appling County where four juveniles, aged 14, 11, 6 and 4 years old, were home alone. Jones was armed with a knife, and attacked the 11 year old male child by striking him, strangling him, and at some point plunging the knife into the boy’s head. The 14 year old female child ran into the room after hearing the younger children screaming and Jones then turned his attention to her, also attacking her with the knife. The two older children were able to get away from Jones, flee the home and run to a neighbor’s home to seek assistance. The two younger children were witnesses to the attack, which traumatized all of the children and resulted in the male child having to receive staples in his head to close the wound and the female needing nine stiches to a finger. Jones fled the scene and BOLOs (Be on the Lookout) were issued by the Appling County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO). Jones was located days later in Jacksonville, FL by U.S. Marshals. Jones gave multiple stories to law enforcement when captured, but the shoes he was wearing at the time of arrest had blood on them that was later matched to the juvenile male.

On March 9, 2022, Jones pled guilty to two counts of Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Knife during Commission of a Felony, and two counts of Cruelty to Children in the Third Degree, before Judge Stephen D. Kelley in Appling County Superior Court. At his hearing, Jones admitted guilt, but argued the sentencing time to be served in prison. The State, represented by Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Hunter Smith, presented evidence at the hearing, which included testimony from the ACSO Investigator Stacy Gruber, the victim’s mother and one of the juvenile victims. In his closing argument, ADA Smith focused on the violent attack on the two children and how the trauma has affected their lives. ADA Smith requested the defendant serve the full term of incarceration as per the negotiated plea agreement. Judge Kelley sentenced Jones to 45 years with the first 25 years to be served in the Georgia Department of Corrections and the remaining 20 years on probation.

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

March 8, 2023

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Ron Adams Weeks, 42, of Brunswick, was convicted of False Imprisonment, Felony Stalking, and Sexual Battery, following a jury trial in Glynn County Superior Court which concluded on March 7, 2023.

The charges stem from a series of incidents that began in April of 2021 when the defendant, Ron Adam Weeks, went to a county office and was assisted by the victim, a Glynn County employee. Following that initial interaction, Weeks began to come by the county employee’s office on a regular basis and not leave her office. Weeks would also harass her with telephone calls and would wait for the victim outside of her office and follow her to her vehicle. The victim’s supervisor told Weeks he was to have no contact with the victim and to stay away from the office. The situation evolved to the point where the victim had to take out a good behavior warrant to keep Weeks away from her. Following the expiration of the warrant, on July 12, 2021, Weeks again went to the victim’s office. After checking the area to see if anyone else was in or near the victim’s office, Weeks entered her office, would not leave and followed her around. At one point, Weeks got behind the victim, pushed her against a table, reached under her skirt, ran his hand up her leg and touched her vagina. Weeks then moved her towards another area and detained her until she was able to distract him by telling him that there were cameras watching him. The victim then got away from the defendant and ran to another person in the building and asked for help to call 911. The incident was investigated by the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office.

Week’s case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney’s T. Clifton Woody, II, and Taylor Herron. The trial was presided over by Glynn County Superior Court Judge Stephen G. Scarlett, Sr., and the jury found Weeks guilty of False Imprisonment, Felony Stalking and Sexual Battery. The defendant Weeks has a history of stalking, having pled guilty to both Stalking and Aggravated Stalking in Glynn County Superior Court in April of 2009, and to Aggravated Stalking in August of 2010. On the current charges, Weeks is facing a possible 21 years to serve – 10 years as to the False Imprisonment, 10 years as to the Felony Stalking, and one year as to the Sexual Battery. Weeks will be sentenced as a recidivist because he has at least three prior felony convictions. Sentencing in this case is scheduled for March 17, 2023.

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

March 2, 2023

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Zachary Lorenzo Blige, 41, of Brunswick, was convicted of Felony Aggravated Assault and Misdemeanor Battery, following a jury trial which concluded on March 1, 2023.

The charges stem from an aggravated assault that occurred on October 18, 2022. On that date, Brunswick Police Department officers responded to a 911 call at a residence on Johnson Street in Brunswick. Upon arrival, the officers determined that a 37-year old female resident had been beaten and strangled by the defendant, who did not reside at the home.

Evidence presented at trial established that Blige had been voluntarily smoking 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as Ecstasy or Molly, prior to the incident. Known medical effects of the drug are irritability, anxiety and aggression. Blige became angry because the female victim had put some of his dirty clothes in a bag after she had allowed him to shower at her home the day before. Blige began to aggressively beat the victim about her face causing excessive bleeding, swelling and pain, and resulting in a permanent facial scar. During the beating, Blige also started to strangle and choke the victim to the point where she thought she was going to die. A neighbor in the residence heard the victim’s screaming, rushed to her room, observed the assault and strangulation occurring and immediately called 911. When the defendant heard that a 911 call was made, he stopped the assault and fled the scene. Police officers subsequently located Blige hiding in an abandoned building and placed him under arrest.

The trial was presided over by Superior Court Judge Stephen G. Scarlett, Sr., in Glynn County Superior Court. Sentencing in this case is scheduled for March 14, 2023. The felony aggravated assault charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, and the battery charge is a twelve month misdemeanor. The State has also filed a notice with the court to have the defendant sentenced as a recidivist felon.

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

February 21, 2023

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Honorato Jose Ramirez, 42, from Hazlehurst, pled guilty to Child Molestation, pursuant to a negotiated guilty plea entered in Jeff Davis County Superior Court on February 17, 2023.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred in early 2022, when the defendant placed his mouth on the sexual organs of the victim, a child under the age of 10.

Ramirez pled guilty to Child Molestation on February 17, 2023, before Senior Judge E.M. Wilkes, and was sentenced to 20 years with the first 19 years to be served in prison, and the remaining year served on probation. Ramirez will also be required to register as a Sex Offender.

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

February 15, 2023

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Jeffrey Scott Davis, 28, of Brunswick, pled guilty to Criminal Attempt to Commit Kidnapping (2 counts) and Felony Theft by Taking, pursuant to a negotiated guilty plea entered in Glynn County Superior Court on February 13, 2023.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on August 27, 2022, when the victim, who was picking up a DoorDash order from Chick-Fil-A at Golden Isles Plaza, parked her vehicle, and ran inside to pick up an order. The victim left her car running with two children inside, ages 6 and 7. When the victim walked into the restaurant, the defendant, Jeffery Davis, approached the vehicle, entered without permission and drove off with the two children in the back seat. As Davis drove toward Cypress Mill Road with the children, who began to cry and call out, he slowed the vehicle down and the two children exited the vehicle while it was still in the Home Depot parking lot. While that was occurring, the victim had exited Chick-Fil-A, saw that her vehicle was missing and began screaming. The victim heard her daughter yelling “Mommy”, and she ran towards the children who were being assisted by a witness in the Home Depot parking lot.

The Glynn County Police Department arrived on scene and immediately sent out a “Be on the Lookout” (BOLO) for the vehicle, utilizing information obtained from the vehicles internal tracking system. As the vehicle tracking had the vehicle heading towards Camden, the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) and the Camden County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) were also notified. Shortly thereafter, CCSO deputies advised they located the vehicle and had detained Davis in Woodbine, GA.

On February 13, 2023, Davis pled guilty to Criminal Attempt to Commit kidnapping (2 counts) and Felony Theft by Taking. Glynn County Superior Court Judge Stephen G. Scarlett, Sr., sentenced Davis to 20 years serve 10 years for the Criminal Attempt to Commit Kidnapping charges, and 10 years to serve for the Theft charge, to run concurrent with the Kidnapping sentence. Davis was sentenced as a recidivist, which means that he will serve each day of his 10 year sentence before he is allowed out on probation for the remaining 10 years.

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