Connect with us

Georgia

Inside Savannah’s push to prosecute gang-affiliated youth

Published

on

Inside Savannah’s push to prosecute gang-affiliated youth


As Georgia expands its new Gang Prosecution Unit in Savannah, questions are mounting about what “gang-affiliated” really means and how prosecutors decide who fits that label.

State and local leaders say the new unit run by Attorney General Chris Carr will help dismantle violent groups across Coastal Georgia. But Savannah criminal defense attorney Martin Hilliard argues the distinction between gang-related and gang-affiliated is often blurred, and the money poured into gang prosecution doesn’t always lead to safer communities.

Hilliard says someone who is gang-related commits a crime for the furtherance of the gang’s goals, while a person that is gang-affiliated wants to be a part of the gang or has loose connections such as friends, shared symbols or social media posts.

“You can get four kids standing on the street corner wearing a red bandana, and they say this is a member of a gang, because they call themselves similar nicknames,” Hilliard said. “That doesn’t necessarily make them a gang, but the government spends a lot of money and has a lot of money invested in grants to create these gang units.”

Advertisement

Georgia’s fiscal year 2026 budget documents show $268,484 will be allocated to Savannah’s Gang Prosecution Unit.

And earlier this month, Carr announced two new hires. Assistant Attorney General Brian DeBlasiis and Criminal Investigator Jacob Hesting will oversee the unit’s regional efforts in Chatham County by working with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute violent criminal gang activity.

“This new regional team will prove critical as we work to disrupt and dismantle violent criminal street gangs in every corner of our state. We won’t rest in our efforts to keep Georgians safe, and those who terrorize our communities with repeated acts of violence will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Carr said in a press release.

Since Carr rolled out the Gang Prosecution Unit across the state, it has secured 80 convictions and indicted over 140 individuals. In late-April, the unit indicited three people from Chatham County — Treyvon Howard, Rashine Edwards and Jakarie Cowell — with violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

Advertisement

The charges stem from two incidents involving the assault of an 18-year-old male at Frazier Homes Apartment Complex on Aug. 8, 2024 and the armed robbery and carjacking of a 44-year-old male at Oglethorpe Mall on Aug. 10, 2024.

“Gang activity has no place in this state, and those who engage in violent crime will be held accountable,” Carr said in a press release. “We’re working each day to disrupt and dismantle the growing gang networks that are terrorizing our communities, and we’re proud to be in this fight with our partners at the Savannah Police Department. We won’t hesitate to ensure the rule of law is enforced because keeping Georgians safe is our top priority.”

A person found guilty of unlawful gang activity in Georgia can be sentenced anywhere from five to 20 years in prison on top of the other charges the state alleges are in furtherance of the gang’s goals.

“Is it actually going to change anything? No.”

Hilliard, who has spent 30 years as an attorney in Savannah, said the state’s laws on gang violence do nothing to reduce the crime.

Advertisement

“It makes a lot of scared people feel better, but it doesn’t actually change anything. It makes you feel good, but it doesn’t change the actual crime,” he said. “A murder is still a murder. A robbery is still a robbery. Drug dealing is still drug dealing. What do you gain by putting additional penalties on it? What does it actually change?”

Many of those who could face gang-related charges, he says, are often as young as 14 to 16 years old.

“It’s a young man’s game. They get out there and they’re looking for clout, dope, money or territory. They either get it, go to prison or get killed along the way,” Hilliard said. 

In 20 years, he has seen gangs proliferate in the streets and funding for gang prosecution rise as a response — all the while, legislators have yet to get to what he thinks is the real root of the problem — lack of fathers in the home, unstable housing economics and seeing friends and family profit from committing criminal acts.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson and Aldermen created a housing task force in 2020 to identify the city’s housing needs. Within six months of conducting research, the task force found that Savannah does not have enough quality housing available at affordable costs for a large portion of its residents.

Advertisement

Housing is considered affordable when rent or mortgage payments do not exceed 30% of a household’s gross income.

Over the past 30 years, the task force found housing expenses have outpaced incomes at a rate of at least 2:1, leaving 40% of Savannah households with incomes less than $50,000 annually not being able to afford quality housing.

“There are solutions to crime. Invest your money in the kids. Invest your money in the parents, and you might prevent them from becoming gang members,” Hilliard said. 

The six suspects, aged between 16 and 20 years old, thought to be involved in the July 2 shooting at the Oglethorpe Mall, were charged with unlawful gang activity in early October.

Advertisement

Five suspects are being tried as adults for the incident that resulted in the death of mall patron Olislene ‘Tina’ Smith who the prosecution argues had heart issues that were excaterbated by the shooting incident.

“I hope it sends a message that is why these kinds of cases are so critically important and critical to the issue of public safety. This is not just young kids beefing in the street. Lives are at danger and at risk, and everybody’s life was at danger and at risk on July 2,” Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Jones said at a press conference in late August.   

A grand jury found probable cause to charge Franklin James, 16, Dahmil Johnson, 16, Royce Haynes, 17, Jonathan Jones, 20, Theron Robbins, 20, and Aujawan Hymon, 20.

“It’s about grabbing headlines or grabbing money. Is it actually going to change anything? No. I can tell you right now it’s overcharged,” Hilliard said.

Ansley Franco is a reporter with the Savannah Morning News, covering public safety and general assignments. You can reach her at AFranco@gannett.com.

Advertisement



Source link

Georgia

No. 3 Georgia to Host Top-Ranked Auburn for Regular Season Finale – University of Georgia Athletics

Published

on

No. 3 Georgia to Host Top-Ranked Auburn for Regular Season Finale – University of Georgia Athletics


ATHENS – The third-ranked Georgia equestrian team will host No. 1 Auburn on Saturday at 12 p.m. to conclude the regular season. 
 
Georgia fell at Auburn 14-6 to wrap up the fall slate of their season. The overall record against the Tigers currently stands at 31-31, including a 13-7 record in Bishop.
 
During their National Championship run in the 2024-25 season, the Mane Dawgs faced off against Auburn on three separate occasions. Georgia was victorious at home, 11-9, before falling on the road, 11-8. In the quarterfinals of the NCEA National Championships in Ocala, the Bulldogs stunned the second-ranked Tigers, 13-4, en route to their eighth National Championship title.
 
Georgia returns to action following a trip to Blythewood, South Carolina, to take on the third-ranked Gamecocks. 
 
Top-ranked Auburn travels to Bishop after hosting No. 4 SMU at home the prior weekend. The Tigers defeated the Mustangs 13-7 and swept all four MOP honors.
 
Following the conclusion of the meet, Georgia will honor their seven seniors for their dedication and contributions to the program.

The meet will be streamed on SECN+ at https://gado.gs/e7v, and live scoring will be available at https://gado.gs/e7w.

 

HOW TO FOLLOW GEORGIA EQUESTRIAN: For complete information on Georgia equestrian, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGAEquestrian on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

JOIN OUR MANE DAWGS FUND: Mane Dawgs Fund contributions make a direct impact in supporting our student-athletes and equines at the Georgia Equestrian program. A gift to the Mane Dawgs fund helps provide resources such as equipment upgrades for our student and equine athletes, travel assistance, and enhance overall team experiences. Contributions to the Mane Dawgs provide benefits such as membership gifts and information about upcoming special events. Click here for more information.

 

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Georgia

Georgia OC Mike Bobo gets giant pay raise, salary matches DC Glenn Schumann

Published

on

Georgia OC Mike Bobo gets giant pay raise, salary matches DC Glenn Schumann


Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann will be paid equally in 2026 after receiving raises, according to an Athens Banner-Herald report.

Coach Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs are coming off a second consecutive SEC championship season and College Football Playoff Sugar Bowl quarterfinal appearance.

lliw ot eht eht ees .nosaes nosaes deviecer yap raey-eno noillim noillim edam tsal esaercni sih eh morf rof noisnetxe tcartnoc dna a oboB 6202 )%64( 2.2$ 305.1$

saw ot tes suoiverp rep ekam ni ni sih ,noisnetxe tcartnoc .yluJ ,oboB 6202 306.1$

Advertisement

.raey htiw ,raey-eerht eht eht taht yldetroper rep evisneffo noillim noillim si ni diap-tsehgih rotanidrooc tcartnoc segareva a sieW CES s’USL .rJ eilrahC 5.7$ 5.2$

hcihw saw pot ot emit driht eht eht eht eht s’noitan ni eh sah seog rof rof tsilanif tsilanif .hcaoc reerac neeb ,drawa tnatsissa a a s’tI selyorB s’oboB oboB .drawA 5202

eerht eht eht gnitrats .sretrats htxis ,gnirocs deknar kcabretrauq stniop rep evisneffo esneffo wen noitan enil ni ni ni ,emag raey-tsrif gnirutaef dniheb gnigareva dna dna na ehT notkcotS CES rennuG ’sgodlluB 1.23 ht82

gnitov rednu siht eht htneves .nosaes ni dehsinif noitcerid yhporT notkcotS namsieH s’oboB

enoz htiw saw deit deit nwod-driht driht eht eht eht gnirocs der yalp egatnecrep egatnecrep egatnecrep fo noitan noitan noitan ni ni ni ni ni .)slaog nwod-htruof rof rof dleif noisrevnoc noisrevnoc ,gnillac tub dna dna ,osla AGU s’oboB dn23 ,02 ht01 )057. snwodhcuot( 51(

Advertisement

lliw pu ot nosaes noillim noillim tsal og morf tcartnoc osla s’nnamuhcS .)%01( 2.2$ 300.2$

ot taht taht gnitrats tes deviecer esiar ylsuoiverp ylsuoiverp noillim ekam ekil dedulcni mih dah dah rotalacse esualc a a ,nnamuhcS yluJ ,oboB .1 301.2$ 000,001$

sdray siht eht eht dnoces gnidne-nosaes ,nosaes gnirocs deknar stniop stniop rep noitan ssol ni ni ni ni ni ,emag retrauq-htruof neve esnefed dna dna gniwolla gniwolla retfa a CES .snaelrO elO weN ssiM aigroeG 374 ,43-93 02 75.71 ht01

.raey htiw ot raey-eerht eht taht taht noitisop rep diap noillim si ni tsehgih evisnefed rotanidrooc tcartnoc hcaoc deveileb eb segareva a lliW ’saxeT pmahcsuM 8.2$



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Georgia

Georgia Lt. Gov. announces bill inspired by Charlie Kirk to protect student speech

Published

on

Georgia Lt. Gov. announces bill inspired by Charlie Kirk to protect student speech


Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones on Monday unveiled legislation inspired by the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk that he says would expand students’ free speech rights in public schools, making Georgia the first state in the nation to pursue such a measure.

Jones announced the “True Patriotism and Universal Student Access Act,” known as the TPUSA Act, on Monday as a priority for the 2026 legislative session. The proposal, sponsored by State Sen. Ben Watson (R–Savannah), would strengthen First Amendment protections for public school students by safeguarding their right to speak, organize, and express political and religious views on campus.

The bill is explicitly shaped around the work and legacy of Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative advocacy group Turning Point USA and its political arm, Turning Point Action. Jones and others have framed the legislation as a way to honor Kirk’s efforts to mobilize young conservatives and defend free speech in schools and on college campuses.

“In the spirit and memory of Charlie’s work, the TPUSA Act in Georgia would ensure that students’ First Amendment rights to organize, gather and speak are protected, regardless of their religious, political, or social viewpoints,” Jones said in a press release. “Georgia is leading the way as the first state in the nation to do it.”

Advertisement

Founder and President of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk speaks during the Turning Point Believers Summit at the Palm Beach County Civic Center on July 26, 2024. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Miami Herald


Jones, who is running for governor and is endorsed by both former President Donald Trump and Turning Point Action, also emphasized his broader commitment to free speech rights as part of his campaign rhetoric. 

“Georgia is building on the work of Charlie Kirk to ensure students can speak, organize and express their beliefs freely,” Jones posted on social media. 

Advertisement

The TPUSA Act would require public schools in Georgia to permit political expression before, during and after the school day to the same extent that non-political expression is allowed. It also would let students form political clubs and groups during non-instructional time, bar discrimination against groups based on viewpoint, and guarantee that students could wear politically themed clothing and accessories under the same standards that apply to other permitted attire.

Supporters say the legislation would ensure that school administrators cannot block students from engaging in peaceful political activities and that all viewpoints, partisan and nonpartisan, would have equal access to meeting spaces and facilities.

Sen. Watson said the move reflects the belief that schools should not restrict students’ free speech or prohibit them from organizing around their beliefs. 

“School officials should not have the power to enforce their own ideologies on students,” he said.

Josh Thifault, senior director at Turning Point Action, praised Georgia’s effort, asserting that Kirk “lived and died for the First Amendment.” He added that the legislation will benefit students “for decades to come” by removing barriers to student expression.

Advertisement



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending