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Augusta teen summit focuses on deterring crime and gang ties

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Augusta teen summit focuses on deterring crime and gang ties


AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF)- Saturday afternoon local leaders in Richmond County held a Community Teen Summit and Youth Forum at May Park Community Center to combat the rise in teen violence.

“We wanted to bring in some of the young adults in our community to a safe place where they can utilize their voice. They can be heard,” said Cheryl Bryant, one of the event coordinators.

The forum was centered on reaching teens who may be at risk of joining gangs or other criminal behaviors.

“We see so much happening with our youth. We’ve seen it in the news. I see it in our courtrooms, whether I’m representing the youth or if I’ve seen a youth before me, and if there’s any information I can share that can protect them from coming into the court system, whether it’s for a criminal charge or for some other reason, I like to do that,” said Katrell Nash, a Juvenile Attorney and Judge.

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The event featured community leaders like Sheriff Eugene Brantley and included panel speakers and other vendors designed to support local youth.

“We’re here to let the youth know that there are resources in the community for them. There’s job opportunities. There is mentoring. We’ve got gang mentors,” explained Stephanie Allen, the Public Education Specialist for the Augusta Fire Department.

A recurring theme of the event was “It Takes a Village.” Community members said it is important to show up for youth who may be struggling and help them make better life choices.

“We just want them to know that they’re not alone and that whatever their struggles are, whatever they’re going through– cyber bullying, peer bullying, feel like they don’t have the support at home, that they can reach out to community members and that we’re here to help them. All they have to do is ask,” Allen said.

“That they feel as if we care and we want to help and that they know that there are things in place for them to get help,” added Sheriff Eugene Brantley.

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The summit was well attended with between 100 and 200 people. Leaders said it made them hopeful that more of Richmond County’s youth will turn from violence and crime and walk a better path.

“I love to see that children are engaged, that they want to know more about their rights. They want to know more about what the law says, as well as what they should do in these situations. It makes me very optimistic about their futures and the future of our community at large,” Nash explained.

“I think it’s going to like open them up to other opportunities. And I hope that they go back to school on Monday and tell their peers what they learned here today,” said Allen.

“Hopefully the kids and the youth who are here will engage with the sponsors and the mentors that are here, and hopefully they’ll learn and make better choices and make better decisions. And learn to respond instead of react to things,” said Sheriff Brantley.

Organizers are hoping the teen summit will become an annual event.

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Photojournalist: Avery Van Dusen.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Augusta, GA

8 school district cops lose certifications over cheating scandal

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8 school district cops lose certifications over cheating scandal


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Newly obtained records show the Georgia Peace Officer Standards & Training Council moved to revoke the certifications of eight Richmond County school police officers tied to an online training cheating scandal.

It’s a case investigators described as involving shared answer keys, deleted group texts and a department culture where some officers said cheating had become routine.

POST opened the investigation around Sept. 3, 2024, after allegations that Richmond County Board of Education Police Department officers cheated on online training courses for which they received POST credit.

The two courses identified in the file were Introduction to Human Trafficking and De-escalation for Law Enforcement, administered online through Virtual Academy. The core allegation is that officers shared screenshots/test answers in a group text so others could complete required online training faster.

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Our previous reporting showed the case had grown to nine officers, with Officer Tajuana Jones receiving 24 months of probation and being ordered to take an ethics and professionalism course, while the remaining cases were still open because the officers had requested hearings.

POST records appear to show the next step: for eight officers — Dorothy Holmon, Kara Anderson, Anthony Dubois, Brian Jackson, Wallace Lebrane, Kellie Holland, Jacquez Williams and Nathan Mercer — the POST Probable Cause Committee recommended revocation, and the full council accepted those recommendations in June 2026.

According to the file, the Board of Education hired a third party entity to investigate. That investigation found Sgt. Dorothy Holmon and Cpl. Kara Anderson shared test answers. Officers identified as being in the group text and receiving answers included Brian Jackson, Jacquez Williams, Anthony Dubois, Wallace Lebrane and Kellie Holland.

POST also noted a limitation: there were other phone numbers in the group text, but the group had been deleted or disbanded before POST started investigating, preventing investigators from identifying every number

They have 30 days to file a formal appeal. The process requires submitting a written request for a pre-hearing conference or administrative hearing, a notarized written response to the allegations, and a required administrative fee.

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The school system said it couldn’t comment because this is an active personnel matter.

The officers

Dorothy Holmon

• POST paints Holmon as one of the central figures. She admitted taking screenshots of test questions and answers and sending them to subordinates in a group text, and she described what she called a “culture of cheating” going back to 2000. POST says she also encouraged subordinates to go ahead and take the tests after sending the answers. The PCC recommended revocation, and the Full Council accepted it

Kara Anderson

• Anderson also admitted supplying test answers to the group text and acknowledged she knew it was wrong. She told POST her motivation was to get mandatory training completed quickly because of staffing issues. The PCC recommended revocation, and the Full Council accepted it

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Anthony Dubois

• Dubois admitted receiving the group text and using the information to check his answers before submitting his test. He also described a broader culture of cheating in the department. POST records say his test score matched Holmon’s and that he missed the same questions. PCC recommendation: revocation. Full Council: accepted

Jacquez Williams

• Williams admitted receiving answer-key screenshots from Holmon and Anderson and admitted using them to complete his Virtual Academy testing. He also admitted he did not report the cheating up the chain of command. PCC recommendation: revocation. Full Council: accepted

Wallace Lebrane

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• Lebrane admitted receiving a text from Holmon containing test answers and acknowledged it with blue-heart emojis, according to POST. He denied using the answers, but POST noted his test results matched Holmon’s, including missed questions. PCC recommendation: revocation. Full Council: accepted

Brian Jackson

• Jackson admitted receiving a group text from Holmon containing test answers but said he did not use them and did not take the tests at issue. POST’s concern appears to be that he did not report the message, despite being a supervisor. PCC recommendation: revocation. Full Council: accepted

Kellie Holland

• Holland admitted receiving a group text from Holmon but said the image was blurry and that she did not report it. POST records also say she admitted receiving answers for required Board of Education “GCN” testing from teachers. PCC recommendation: revocation. Full Council: accepted

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Nathan Mercer

• Mercer’s case is different from the group-text cases. The file focuses on statements about whether Holmon was going to help him with a test tied to University of Georgia football special-duty work, and whether his account conflicted with statements from other officers. PCC recommendation: revocation. Full Council: accepted

Tajuana Jones

• Jones was covered in a March story. POST records at that time showed she received 24 months of probation, had to complete an ethics and professionalism course, and was accused of receiving answers but not reporting the misconduct.

Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

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Augusta, GA

South Augusta YMCA will not renew Tobacco Road lease

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South Augusta YMCA will not renew Tobacco Road lease


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The South Augusta YMCA will not renew its lease at the Tobacco Road location, the Y confirmed.

The shopping center is being sold, and the current lease ends in October.

The Y has not announced a final day at the current location. Officials said they plan to announce that date and next steps for South Augusta later this month.

The YMCA said it still plans to serve South Augusta after the lease expires.

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Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.



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Augusta, GA

Man charged with murder in shooting death of Augusta woman

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Man charged with murder in shooting death of Augusta woman


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A man who was previously wanted for questioning in an Augusta deadly shooting has now been charged with murder in the case, according to authorities.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says Kemfton Quewanaki Kenon, 27, was arrested on Friday in connection to the shooting death of Khyla Rodriguez, of Augusta.

Kemfton Quewanaki Kenon(Richmond County Sheriff’s Office)

Kenon is booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center and charged with murder and possession of a firearm during a crime, according to jail bookings.

Rodriguez, 25, was found dead after deputies received a call about a shooting on May 15 at 1:11 a.m. on Cameron Drive.

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The Richmond County Coroner’s Office said Rodriguez was pronounced dead at 2:27 a.m.

Kenon was previously wanted for questioning in the case and was located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. He was interviewed and arrested on an unrelated warrant.

Deputies were also interviewed two other subjects in the case. They were not arrested in the case.

Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.



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