Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 8A - THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS. WEDNESDAY. MARCH 19. 2008
County Must Hold Hearing To Determine
Fate Of Puppies From Nicholson Kennel
Hearings Set Monday
In DA Theft Case
By Angela Gary
County officials say a forfei
ture hearing must be held to de
termine if the 300 puppies taken
from a Nicholson kennel can be
adopted, or whether they must be
returned to their owners.
More than 50 citizens attended
a Jackson County Board of Com
missioners meeting Monday to
hear an update on the case.
The citizens repeatedly asked
for a time line on when the case
will be resolved. County attorney
Jane Range said it would be up to
court officials to set the forfeiture
hearing. BOC chairman Pat Bell
said the case has been a priority
for the county and it will continue
to be so until it is resolved.
Three weeks ago, more than
300 puppies were removed from
a Nicholson kennel following the
arrests of the owners after allega
tions of abuse and neglect. The
kennel license has been revoked
by the Georgia Department of
Agriculture and state officials say
the owners will likely never be al
lowed to operate a kennel again
because of the condition of the
puppies.
David Gunter, an attorney rep
resenting the Department of Agri
culture, said that the kennel own
ers could face up to $1 million in
fines. He said the investigation is
continuing by the state into the
civil case and said it will be up
to the district attorney to pursue
criminal charges.
“The criminal case is in the early
stages of review," district attorney
Rick Bridgeman said when con
tacted about the case. He was not
at the meeting Monday night.
“The next grand jury meets in
May," Bridgeman added. “We
aren’t involved in the impound
ment process other than to give
our consent to release or dispose
of the animals at issue prior to res
olution of the criminal case."
Kennel owners and opera
tors, Marie, Jennifer and Ronnie
Hughes and Brandy Stone, were
all charged with misdemeanor and
federal animal cruelty charges.
At Monday’s BOC meeting, a
report was given on the condition
of the puppies found at the Nich
olson kennel. Problems included
broken bones, open sores, skin
conditions, dehydration, malnour-
ishment, severe dental issues and
high parasite levels.
“They had mud and feces all
over them," said one woman
whose organization has housed
many of the puppies since they
were removed from the Nichol
son kennel.
Among the deformities report
edly found on the dogs that were
still being bred include puppies
with broken backs, tumors, no jaw
and no feet.
“Every one of those animals
needed vet care," one of the care
givers said. “... Some will have
permanent scars. Many will have
ongoing issues because of the in-
breeding."
Dr. Ray DeLuca, a supervisor
with the Department of Agricul
ture, said the case is one of the
worst he has seen in his 12 years
with the state.
Hearings will be held Tues
day in Banks County Superior
Court on charges filed against
former Piedmont Judicial Cir
cuit Assistant District Attorney
Brett Williams and former DA
employee Linn Jones. The hear
ings are set for 10 a.m. in Banks
County Superior Court.
Jones is the wife of former
DA Tim Madison, who pled
guilty to theft charges and was
sentenced two weeks ago to six
years in prison and to pay resti
tution of $40,000.
Williams is charged with theft
by taking, theft by receiving and
violation of oath of office for
having allegedly received a dou
ble salary, one from the state
and one from Banks County,
then kicking part of the Banks
County salary back to Madi
son.
Jones is charged with four
counts of false statements and
one count of conspiracy to de
fraud the state for having alleg
edly received pay for hours she
didn’t actually work. Madison
had put his wife on the pay
roll in both Jackson and Banks
counties in 2005 and 2006.
All three were indicted last
August and entered not guilty
pleas in December. Two weeks
ago, Madison changed his plea
to guilty and received his sen
tence.
The cases began in March
2007 after a series of investiga
tive newspaper articles in The
Jackson Herald outlined financial
abuse in the DA’s office. Geor
gia Attorney General Thurbert
Baker subsequently asked the
GBI to formally investigate the
matter. Madison and Jones both
resigned their positions in May.
Williams had already left the
DA’s office and was working
for the U.S. Justice Department
in Atlanta. He subsequently re
signed from that position.
Deputies Report 21 Arrests Last Week
JEFFERSON - The Jackson
County Sheriff’s Office reported
21 arrests last week, including the
following:
•Nick Edward Adams, 38, 955
Rocky Ford Road, Lavonia, traf
ficking methamphetamine, pos
session of tools for the commis
sion of a crime, possession of
marijuana, possession of meth
amphetamine with intent to dis
tribute, reckless driving and flee
ing or attempting to elude a law
enforcement officer.
•Marlon Antonio Jackson, 35,
146 Pine Street, Jefferson, proba
tion violation.
• Glenn Wilton Johnson, 40,530
Sims Street, Maysville, battery.
• Kent Massey, 35, 711 Sosebee
Road, Talmo, obstructing or hin
dering a law enforcement officer
and failure to appear.
•Raymond Ray Ortiz, 20, 155
West View Road, Commerce, pro
bation violation.
•Carlene Saville, 54, 5686 Hwy.
82 Spur, Maysville, possession of
methamphetamine.
•Denise Cowart Gary, 52, 331
Allen Road, Commerce, posses
sion of tools for the commission
of a crime.
• Rebecca Lynn Jordan, 50, 427
Hickory Way, Maysville, criminal
trespass.
•Penny Denise Maxwell, 30,
1200 Apple Valley Road, Com
merce, failure to maintain a lane
and violation of conditions.
• Barbara Ann Ricketts, 49, 2115
Hoods Mill Road, Commerce,
bad check.
•David Junior Roach, 50, 220
First Street, Maysville, failure to
appear.
• Matthew David Roach, 21,220
First Street, Maysville, failure to
appear.
• Graciana Solis, 29,438 Hidden
Oak Lane, Jefferson, bad check.
• Lisa Camp Kelley, 40,299 Rock
Forge Lane, Jefferson, bad check.
•Susan Marie McNair, 34, 315
Sawdust Trail, Nicholson, bad
check.
• Christopher Joseph Mrozows-
Municipal Police Report Making
Arrests made last week by the
Jefferson, Arcade, Hoschton and
Pendergrass police departments
include the following:
ARCADE
•Norma Jean Everhart, 25, 138
West Hancock Avenue, Athens,
failure to appear.
• Lashanta Shommonkie Wil
son, 22, 201 North Pine Street,
Lexington, NC, driving while li
cense suspended and failure to
maintain a lane.
•Jeffery William Herrington,
55, 446 Swann Road, Jefferson,
aggravated cruelty to animals.
JEFFERSON
•Adrian Orozco Partida, 31,
1892 Winder Hwy., Jefferson,
possession of marijuana and sus
pended license.
•German Aguilar, 31, 200 Kelli
Drive, Athens, speeding and driv
ing without a license.
•Alvin Carmona, 44, 5177 Win-
dorf Drive, Westerville, OH, driv
ing while license suspended.
•Benjamin Bucher Knight, 17,
414 Melvin Drive, Jefferson, reck
less conduct.
•Floyd Dion Tate, 30, 91 May
berry Lane, Jefferson, aggravated
assault.
• Dirk Eugene Gardner, 38,5586
Estate Court, Norcross, violation
of the Georgia Controlled Sub
stances Act.
• Fransisco Guerrero Lopez, 34,
1625 Regal Row, Dallas, TX, driv
ing unlicensed and windshield
violation.
•Nathan Andrew Porter, 24,
Maysville Man Charged With Arson In Mobile Home Fire
A Maysville man has been fire departments responded to turned over to the state fire mar-
charged with arson in a fire that the fire. The investigation was shal’s office,
totally destroyed a mobile home
on Red Oak Road.
Ricky Shane Rider, 360 Red Oak
Road, Maysville, was charged with
arson and probation violation.
A man on the scene when the
fire occurred reported that Rider
had threatened to burn the house.
He said Rider got a box and set
it on fire on the porch of the resi
dence. He added that Rider was
upset because he wouldn’t take
him to buy cigarettes.
The Plainview and Maysville
SPRING SPORTS... I took a
little walk after school the other
day to take a look at spring
sports practice. I was a little bit
shocked. It looked like no one in
the Middle School or High
School had gone home.
My eyes beheld: Varsity and
Middle School baseball teams;
boys and girls Varsity and Middle
School track and field; and boys
and girls tennis.
I’m so glad we can offer all of
these activities, and all of them
well-coached.
You have a special invitation to
come and visit ACS and take a
guided tour of our modern
facilities.
ATHENS
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
“Affordable Quality Education Since 1970”
K3-12TH CALL (706) 549-7586
www.athenschristian.com
Where the fun begins and never ends!
Go Karts - Mini Golf - Laser tag
Water Wars - Arcade games - Inflatables
Climbing wall - food - bumper boats
Party and banquet rooms and much more!!
Just down the road from Banks Crossing
located at 40155 Hwy. 441
706-335-3866
Funopolis Family Center is now hiring!
If you are dependable, positive, energetic, enjoy
working with the public, are at least 16 years old and
able to work a minimum of 20 hours per week, this is
your chance to become part of a winning team at
Funopolis Family Fun Center.
Funopolis is now accepting applications for full time
and part time positions which will include weekend
and night shifts. Some positions are seasonal.
Candidates can download applications from the web
site:
www.funop olisf amily funcenter. c om
Positions available are: floor manager, mechanic,
janitor, attraction attendants, phone sales, cashiers,
party hostesses and food service personnel.
Do not miss this great opportunity to work in a
clean, friendly and fun environment!
ki, 31, 255 Hillwood Drive, Dan-
ielsville, probation violation.
•Anthony Lamar Williams, 43,
883 College Avenue, Athens, un
lawfully crossing guard line with
out consent of jail.
•Tabatha Lynn Brawner, 35,
542 Hebron Church Road, Com
merce, bad check.
•Harold Lee Chambers, 35,
750 Chambers Road, Commerce,
theft by receiving.
• Lissette Carola Flores, 28,1400
Herrington Road, Lawrenceville,
failure to appear.
• Christina Darlene Pressley, 24,
1002 Sheep Pasture Road, Com
merce, violation of mandatory
education for children law.
14 Arrests
1768 Harrison Bridge Road, Roys-
ton, eluding a police officer.
HOSCHTON
•Omar Saenz Moreno, 32, 374
Lamar Lane, Hoschton, wind
shield violation and no license.
PENDERGRASS
• Luz Marie Ayala, 43,5394 Buff
ington Road, Gillsville, no license
and window tint violation.
• Gaudencio Avellane Navarro,
34, 10179 Jefferson River Road,
Athens, window tint violation and
no license.
RECYCLE THIS PAPER
Animals Subject Of Calls To Sheriff
JEFFERSON - Four animal
complaints were reported to the
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
last week. They include the fol
lowing:
•A Hoschton man said his
neighbor ran over his dog.
•A dead rabbit and puppy
were found on the side of the
road on Porter Road, Maysville.
•A Jefferson woman said she
was walking on Grey Field Court
when a dog bit her.
• animal cruelty at a Lewis Sail
ors Road, Jefferson, location.
Other Incidents
Other incidents reported to
the sheriff’s office last week in
clude the following:
• suspicious activity at a Com
merce Road business.
•harassing phone calls at an
Ivey Creek Drive, Nicholson,
location.
• antiques taken from the
porch of a Silver Dollar Road,
Maysville, location.
•A Pendergrass woman said
her husband is stalking her and
violating a TPO.
•gun taken from a Hwy. 441
South, Commerce, address.
•vehicle taken from a Hwy.
441 business.
•A Commerce woman said
her boyfriend choked her.
•trespassing at a Jim David
Road, Nicholson, address.
• identity theft against an Ad
ams Road, Jefferson, woman.
• property damage at a Cabin
Creek Road, Commerce, resi
dence.
•four manhole covers taken
from a Woodsbridge Road,
Maysville, site.
• 39 pair of pants taken from a
Banks Crossing business.
•identity theft against a Nich
olson woman.
•theft at a Winford Smith
Road, Athens, residence.
Banks-Jackson Risk Reduction
DUI SCHOOL
706-336-6777
DEFENSIVE DRIVING
1728 North Broad Street, Commerce, State Certified 5010 and 2007
Next DUI Class begins on March 29, 2008
Next Defensive Driving Class will be held on March 22, 2008
Open your CD ACCOUNT TODAY
6 M ONTHS
*Annual Percentage Yield. The stated APY is accurate as of 2/28/2008. Minimum
deposit to open is $500.00. Substantial penalty for early withdrawal. Certain
restrictions may apply. Offer may be withdrawn at any time.
Limited Time Only
OUNTAIN
/ALLEY
COMMUNITY BANK
Experience = the difference
33 Hilltop Drive. Jefferson Georgia 30549 • 706-387-7416 • www.mvcbank.com