The Monroe County reporter. (Forsyth, Ga.) 1972-current, July 06, 2011, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text14A § A Sign of I Progress isna Blazing Hot Summer Sale at Freshway Serving the Public Safety Capital of Georgia Inside A downtown rap in Forsyth SEE PAGE 3A All-Stars heading to Dalton SEE PAGE 1B Deaths Helen Louise Fagan Willie Pearl Zellner Seaborn Derrill Shaw Susie Maud Watkins Elsie Lee Jones Carolyn Denise Pennington Sharon Edwards See Page 6A WELCOME Matthew Wilds Tricia Graham Kristen Richardson Betty Kare Diane Smith Rev. Robert Walker, III Jim F. Lowery Get your name on this list by subscribing today. 52 issues just $35 in Monroe County. Call 994-2358 or go to www.mymcr.net. James and Ticha Weeks and Ticha’s daughter Rhianna Roller embrace on the courthouse square after Thursday’s verdict. James Weeks acquitted on all charges BY WILL DAVIS It took a Monroe County jury less than 35 minutes to return a not guilty verdict on all child molestation counts against volunteer firefighter James Weeks on Thursday. “I knew if they looked at everything they’d see the truth and I’d be free,” Weeks told the Reporter just minutes after his acquittal. “It’s been a long 30 months.” Weeks, a fireman for the city of Morrow and long-time volunteer firefighter and com munity leader in Bolingbroke, said he was having his family and firefighter friends to the house Saturday for a cookout celebration. If convicted he would have faced a minimum of 25 years in prison. Before his trial, prosecutors offered Weeks five years of probation as a regis tered sex offender but no prison time as a plea agreement. But he turned them down. The four-day trial came two and a half years ago that Weeks’ two daughters told authori ties he touched them inappro priately at his Bolingbroke home in 2006 and 2007. Weeks has been free on bond but he said trying to defend himself while keeping his job and family going have taken a toll. The girls, half-sisters who are now ages 13 and 21, both testified in the case that their dad touched them in their pri vate parts at his home before their stepmother came home from work. The jury watched video tape of their statements to Inv. Allen Henderson of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office CARE Cottage for abused women and children from 2009. While making the claims, both girls told the jury that they still loved their dad. Assistant district attorney Lauren Love conceded the older daughter had a criminal record and had recanted a See WEEKS page 7A “This has taken my pride, my honor, and my reputation. I have never touched my daughters in any way inappropriately.” - James Weeks Drug task force nets 80th arrest in 2 months BY WILL DAVIS The newly restarted Forsyth-Monroe County Drug Task Force appears to be put ting a big dent in the local drug trade after arresting six dealers on federal drug charges after a pre-dawn round up in Forsyth last Tuesday. That brings up to 80 the number of arrests the task force has arrested on drug charges since it was reconstituted in March. Thsoe arrested were Chadwick Jermaine Brown, Lizzie Mae White, Clemon Eddie Pinyon, Steven Harrison, Terrie Wooten and Eugene Grier, on charges of distribution of cocaine in the Kynette Park area in Forsyth. The suspects had already been charged locally but have since been indicted by a federal grand jury, said Sgt. Shawn Knight of the task force. Knight said the task force is seeking feder al charges because if convicted the suspects will face stiffer penalties. "We're hop ing by putting federal charges against them," said Knight, "that's what will make the biggest impact. There's no pro bation or parole. Your sentence is what it is, you do the full pull." Knight said with federal charges they'll stay in prison longer, giving authorities time to clean up neighborhoods before the suspects get back out of confinement, as they do more quickly in the state system. Since March, Knight said they've made 80 arrests and more are coming. "The streets are definitely shook up," said Knight. "The way we're doing things, nobody knows who's next. When it comes to federal indictments, a lot of folks think they're in the all clear, and life is good until the U.S. marshall shows up at your front door." Knight said more federal indictments should be coming down soon. Last week’s suspect were charged with distribution of cocaine, except for Brown, who was charged with keeping a drug house for having so many drug arrests at his home. All were from Forsyth except one is from Dalton. On June 22, the task force seized a pot growing operation in rural Monroe County valued at $375,000. Arrest details are not being released at this time due to an ongo ing investigation. The streets are definitely shook up. The way we're doing things, nobody knows who's next. - Sgt. Shawn Knight of the Drug Task Force Now it’s up to Kemp It's all over but waiting. Monroe and Bibb counties on Thursday sub mitted their final briefs on the county line dis pute to secretary of state Brian Kemp and now await his verdict. Kemp spokesman Matt Carrothers said Kemp will review both counties' submissions 1 and supporting mate rials. He noted the Rihh^ law puts n ° “ “y time limit on when Kemp must See KEMP page 4A the Monroe Train derails The Norfolk Southern line near Juli ette is back open after a train de railed Wednesday morning around 10 a.m. The incident occurred near the intersection of Hwy. 83 and Hwy. 87 close to the Towaliga River but no major roadways were blocked by the derailed cars, said Allison Willis of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Workers had to access the derail ment via Elbert Jackson Road. The cause of the derailment had not been determined. There were no injuries reported and no cargo was spilled. A Norfolk Southern spokesman said the railline was reopened on Thurs day. (Photos/Will Davis) JOIN THE REPORTER: ON-LINE AND PRINT SUBSCRIPTION JUST $35. CALL 994-2358. 9

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The Monroe County reporter. (Forsyth, Ga.) 1972-current, July 06, 2011, Image 1