News

Arnithal Freeman pleads guilty and is sentenced to prison for aggravated battery and aggravated stalking of Debra Ashby:

Yesterday, just before jury selection, Arnithal Freeman (74 years old) entered a plea of guilty to Aggravated Battery – Family Violence, Aggravated Assault, and Terroristic Threats, as well as a separate case of Aggravated Stalking. This plea was entered with no negotiated sentence. After hearing arguments and evidence regarding sentencing, Judge Kevin Morris sentenced Freeman to 25 years with the first 20 years to be served in prison.

The first incident occurred on April 12, 2022 at Ms. Ashby’s Covington residence. Her family had not been able to contact her for a few days. When they went to check on her, they found her with severe bruising to her neck, face, and arms as well as blood pooling in her eyes. Ashby told investigators that Freeman, her boyfriend, began to assault her during an argument. Freeman struck her multiple times with his fists and a boot. He also strangled her to the point that she could not breathe. Law enforcement located Freeman who claimed Ashby had received her injuries from falling off a bed.

Freeman was arrested and later bonded out of jail in May of 2022. As a condition of his bond, Freeman was to have no contact with Ms. Ashby. On November 1, 2022, Ashby’s family reported her missing and had not seen or spoken with her since October 29. Shortly after this, the Covington Police Department initiated a missing person’s investigation. On November 5, 2022 as part of this investigation, it was determined that Freeman had gone to Ashby’s house after he had been released from jail. He was arrested that day for Aggravated Stalking.

Sadly, on November 11, 2022, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office located remains that were later identified to be those of Ms. Ashby.

The Covington Police Department, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, and the GBI crime lab investigated the death case as a separate, but possibly related matter to the April 12, 2022 incident. This included work by a medical examiner and forensic anthropologist. Ultimately, the autopsy and anthropology report have not determined a cause or manner of death based on the state of the remains and did not rule out non-homicidal causes of death (such as natural causes or other causes of death not caused by another person).

Based on this and the available evidence regarding Ms. Ashby’s death, the District Attorney’s Office determined it was appropriate to proceed with the aggravated battery and aggravated stalking cases. The State was ready to try those cases despite the victim being deceased. Instead, the Defendant, who is now 74 years old, pleaded guilty on the morning of jury selection.

The prosecution was handled by Chief Assistant District Attorney Amber Dally, Chief Investigator Kelly Whire, Senior Victim Advocate Shay Payne, Trial Assistant Danielle Miller, and Legal Assistant Sheila Cornelius. Numerous deputies, officers, and investigators with the Covington Police Department and Newton County Sheriff’s Office were involved in the investigations.

If anyone has any information regarding the death of Ms. Ashby, please contact the Covington Police Department, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, or the Newton County District Attorney’s Office.

Randy McGinley

Alcovy Judicial Circuit

Both Defendants Plea Guilty in Halloween 2023 Murder:

This afternoon, Kevin Yamil Rosa and Jagunte Jaylee Bass pleaded guilty to murder and other offenses for their roles in the death of Faybeann Ragsdale on Halloween night in 2023 in the Home Depot parking lot.

During the guilty pleas in court today, Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jillian Hall describe the facts of the case. Bass reached out to Ragsdale telling Ragsdale that Bass’s “bro” wanted to purchase marijuana. However, this supposed drug transaction was a set up by Rosa and Bass to rob Ragsdale. On October 31, 2023, Ragsdale agreed to meet Rosa in the Monroe Walmart parking lot. However, because there was law enforcement present in the parking lot, the meet location was moved to the Home Depot parking lot.

Bass drove he and Rosa to that location. Rosa exited their vehicle and got into Ragsdale’s SUV. Once inside, Rosa shot Ragsdale twice. Ragsdale’s vehicle was on, and when Ragsdale was shot, the vehicle accelerated rapidly in an out-of-control manner. The vehicle eventually traveled through the Home Depot parking lot, through a portion of the bank parking lot, and then collided with a car near the entrance to Arby’s.

Witnesses observed Rosa exit the vehicle and flee before being picked up by Bass. They fled together. Monroe Police quickly responded and began an investigation. Evidence from Ragsdale’s cell phone, along with surveillance footage and a witness accounts led investigators to Bass and Rosa.

Rosa was located and arrested near a friend’s house in Conyers hiding in the backseat of a vehicle, along with bloody clothing and a gun, which had been hidden under his friend’s mother’s bed. Bass was arrested in Coweta County.

Cell phones belonging to both Rosa and Bass were located and showed extensive evidence of their plans to rob Ragsdale at gunpoint. Rosa was already a convicted felon.

Rosa and Bass pleaded guilty and were sentenced as follows:

Rosa:

Malice Murder, 3 counts of Felony Murder, Attempted to Commit Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Criminal Damage to Property in the First Degree, Illegal Use of Communication Facility, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Sentenced to life in prison plus 25 years.

Bass:

2 counts of Felony Murder, Attempted Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Possession of Firearm During Commission of a Felony, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Criminal Damage to Property in the First Degree, and Illegal Use of Communication Facility.
Sentenced to life in prison plus 15 years.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jillian Hall, Chief Investigator Josh Chambers, Victim Services Director Kim Kelly, and Senior Legal Assistant Melanie Sims. The investigation was led by the Monroe Police Department with assistance from the GBI, the Walton County District Attorney’s Office, the GBI Crime Lab, and other surrounding agencies.

Randy McGinley

District Attorney

Alcovy Judicial Circuit

Thank you Nancy Burgess!

Founder and long-time Executive Director of A Child's Voice Child Advocacy Center, Nancy Burgess is retiring at the end of this year. Nancy has dedicated over 50 years of her life to serving the most vulnerable in our communities. She retired from DFCS after 30 years and went on to establish A Child's Voice in 2006. She has served as its Executive Director since 2008.

A Child's Voice Executive Director Nancy Burgess, with DA Randy McGinley (left) and Sheriff Keith Brooks (right)

A Child's Voice (ACV) is the Child Advocacy Center that covers the Alcovy Judicial Circuit, Walton and Newton Counties. A non-profit organization, ACV provides forensic interview services, forensic medical examinations, family advocacy services, and counseling services to children who have suffered sexual or physical abuse or were witnesses to sexual or violent crimes. The Center also provides community outreach, including trainings and education.

ACV has grown to the amazing organization it is today because of the hard work of Nancy. Initially, ACV was located in Covington, and then Loganville, renting the space it needed. Then, in late 2012, it purchased a permanent location in Social Circle, in part to be centrally located to serve both Counties. The agency has expanded into more than one building and more employees to provide more services to children.

Nancy's work has helped countless children in our communities. Newton and Walton are a better place to live and raise a family because of her five decades of dedication. Thank you for everything you have done!

Randy McGinley

District Attorney

Nancy Burgess with present and past ACV Board Members