🌱 DA Not Pursuing Charges Against Public Defender + $50,000 Reward

Hello, Augusta. I’m here in your inbox per usual to tell you everything you need to know about what’s going on around town.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Some sun with a thunderstorm. High: 83 Low: 63.
• Friday: Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 86 Low: 64.

Here are the top three stories in Augusta today:

1. The Augusta District Attorney’s Office has announced that it will not prosecute a public defender from Richmond County accused of providing contraband to an inmate. Public Defender Rodrequez Burnett provided an incarcerated client with a roll of toilet paper from an unlocked closet. Burnett’s client removed the toilet paper wrapping, and Burnett then returned the roll of toilet paper. Burnett was charged with a felony but will not face prosecution, since the DA’s office said the felony charge does not apply to a local jail, and the situation best fits a misdemeanor. The DA’s office stated that their resources are better focused on serious violent felonies rather than pursuing a misdemeanor in this case. (Augusta Chronicle)
2. A reward of up to $50,000 is available for providing information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individuals involved in a robbery of a letter carrier in Augusta. The incident occurred on Jun. 4 in Augusta’s Rocky Creek Mobile Home Park. To provide information related to the case, individuals can contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455. (WJCL 22)
3. Young golfers in Richmond County have the opportunity to participate in the Hootie and the Blowfish Summer Chapter Series in South Carolina, a well-established summer golf tournament for juniors. The tournament, which has been running for over two decades, offers a chance for young golfers aged seven to 18 to compete and enhance their skills. Many successful golfers have emerged from this tournament, using it as a stepping stone toward their professional careers. (WJBF 6)

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Today and tomorrow in and around Augusta:

• Live Music With Kendall Levesque At Top Dawg Tavern (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• REMINDER: From May to Sep. 30, Augusta is under a burn ban notice. This includes land clearing, burning yard debris, and recreational fire pits. (Augusta, Georgia Fire/EMA via Facebook)
• Augusta Technical College has named a new Dean of Academic Affairs, Mr. John Richardson. Richardson will provide support to the Office of Academic Affairs and Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research, working collaboratively with academic schools to introduce new credit programs and more. (Augusta Technical College via Facebook)
• Researchers from Augusta University have recently revealed that CBD, also known as cannabidiol, could possibly prevent lung cancer. Learn more about their research here. (Augusta University via Facebook)

Alrighty, you’re all caught up for today! I’ll be back in your inbox soon with another update.

— Michelle Paul

About me: Michelle Paul is a Utah-based writer and photographer with a professional background in content management and registered nursing. When not working on projects ranging from photo editing to copywriting, they enjoy traveling, video games, and expanding their skills.