Juvenile sentenced as an adult for drive-by shooting

Last week, Savion Jones pleaded guilty to Drive-by Shooting, Possession of Firearm During Commission of a Felony, Criminal Damage to Property in the First Degree, Criminal Damage to Property in the Second Degree, and Theft by Taking (two counts).

On December 13, 2024, Jones stole a car and firearm from a family member and drove to a neighborhood in the unincorporated area of Loganville. At approximately 11:30pm, he fired 9 rounds towards a residence. The house was struck with multiple rounds, including 2 that entered the window of a child's bedroom, and two vehicles parked at the residence were also struck with rounds. Thankfully, no one was injured.

The Walton County Sheriff's Office quickly responded to the area. Using FLOCK (license plate reader) cameras and surveillance video from the area, they quickly identified the vehicle that was used in the drive-by shooting. This led investigators to Jones. Jones later confessed to the crimes. Jones also told investigators that he believed he was shooting at someone else's house, so the victims in this case were not his intended target.

Because Jones was 16 at the time of the crime, his case began in Juvenile Court. The State filed a Motion asking that Court to transfer the case to Superior Court and that Jones be treated as an adult due to the serious nature of the crimes. The Defendant was initially going to contest the case being transferred to Superior Court, but he decided to agree to the transfer. If this crime had occurred after April 28 of this year, it would have automatically been in Superior Court.

The Defendant was sentenced to 25 years with the first 8 years to be served in prison. This sentence accounted for the serious nature of the offenses as well as the Defendant's age and acceptance of responsibility.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jacqueline Fletcher, Assistant District Attorney Vanessa Webber, Investigator Denney Wells, Senior Victim Advocate Donna Brandenburg, and Senior Legal Assistant Melanie Sims.

"It is my hope that this case can be a lesson to our young men and women that gun violence can lead to serious consequences. Do not hesitate to share this with your kids, young relatives, friends, etc.

Cases with young defendants, such as this case, lead to a lot of hard decisions for prosecutors. The defendant's age cannot be ignored, but the seriousness of the offense must also be considered. Shooting into a home occupied by an entire family not only damages the home and terrifies the family as it is happening, but it also leads to children and parents not feeling safe in their own home. As scary as this case was, it could have been a lot worse. Thankfully, no one was struck by the multiple shots from the Defendant."

DA Randy McGinley

Conviction in Murder of Melvin Cooksey:

A Newton County jury found Danetta Knoblauch guilty of the murder of Melvin Cooksey after a weeklong trial. The trial started Wednesday, November 12, 2025 and ended yesterday, November 20, 2025, around 3pm when the jury found Knoblauch guilty of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Arson in the 1^st Degree and Concealing the Death of Another.

Melvin Cooksey

The investigation began in late February 2023 with the highly publicized missing person report involving Melvin Cooksey. On February 23, 2023, Newton County deputies and firefighters responded to a fire in a residence on Mote Road. Fire investigators discovered that the fire had been intentionally set and propane tanks had been spread throughout the house.

These events led to a lengthy investigation by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the District Attorneys Office. In May of 2023, a couple hiking through the mountains in Fannin County, located a human skull. Law enforcement responded to the area and found a pacemaker. The pacemaker’s serial number matched to Cooksey.

Witness statements, social media records, phone records, and FLOCK (license plate reader) camera records led investigation to identifying Knoblauch. Investigators then discovered that she was wanted for attacking another man with a sledgehammer and screwdriver in Kansas. Also in May 2023, Knoblauch was tracked to East Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After a lengthy standoff there with local and state police, Knoblauch, who also had her child with her during the standoff, was arrested on the Kansas warrants.

Investigators from Georgia were present during the standoff and interviewed Knoblauch. Her child was forensically interviewed by a local child advocacy center. Both interviews provided incriminating information to law enforcement. Knoblauch was extradited to Georgia and booked into the Newton County jail on July 4, 2023. A Newton County Grand Jury then indicted her for Cooksey’s murder and other charges on August 4, 2023.

The case proceeded with numerous pretrial hearings before trial started last week. During trial, the State presented 25 witnesses and approximately 750 pieces of evidence. This included extensive mapping of the Defendant’s movements with evidence from cell phone tower records of her phones and Cooksey’s phone, FLOCK camera records, and location data from CashApp. A forensic anthropologist testified about injuries to Cooksey’s skull. Extensive crime scene testimony and evidence, as well as GBI crime lab witnesses presenting DNA evidence, implicated the Defendant in Cooksey’s death. Text messages, social media messages, interviews, and body camera footage from Louisiana and Kansas were also presented to the jury.

Danetta Knoblauch

After the State rested its case, the Defendant chose to testify. Closing arguments concluded after 5:30 pm on Wednesday, November 19. Numerous family members and friends of Melvin were present for the guilty verdict. Knoblauch remains in custody and will be sentenced on December 10, 2025.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Bailey Wilkinson, Assistant District Attorney Madison Caito, Investigator Josh Shumate, Chief Investigator Kelly Whire, Victim Advocates Madison Sanders and Mollie Peacock, Trial Assistant Ellen Bales, and Chief Legal Assistant Cindi Hendrix. 

The investigation was led by Newton County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Corporal Josh Hicks and GBI Special Agent Amelia Maddox. Other agencies assisting in the investigation include: the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, the GA Department of Natural Resources, Louisiana State Police, East Baton Rouge Police Department, East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office, Sedgwick County (Kansas) District Attorney’s Office, Brazoria County (Texas) District Attorney’s Office, the Baton Rouge Advocacy Center, and A Child’s Voice Child Advocacy Center.  

“Because of the tireless work of the prosecution team and the lead investigators, the person responsible for this senseless and heinous crime has been convicted. This was a complicated case that required expertise in so many areas and a dedication to finding the truth. I want to thank the numerous agencies that assisted in the investigation and trial preparation for this case. This verdict shows the continued dedication of the DA’s Office to seeking justice for victims and their families.”

Randy McGinley

District Attorney

Alcovy Judicial Circuit

Guilty Plea to Distributing Fentanyl that Led to Fatal Overdose of Newton County Man:

Yesterday, October 30, 2025, Matthew Bruce Burley pleaded guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter, Distribution of Fentanyl, and Trafficking Fentanyl for offenses related to the overdose death of James Nail, Jr. On December 30, 2022, Covington Police Department (CPD) officers responded to an overdose on Hannah Street. Nail was later pronounced dead at Piedmont Newton. Later testing by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab showed that Nail had substances in his system, including Fentanyl and Xylazine, that led to his death.

James Nail, Jr.

Fentanyl is a power synthetic opioid that is significantly stronger than morphine and heroin. While Fentanyl has legitimate medical uses, over the last 10 years, the illegal use of fentanyl has increased. Xylazine (commonly called “tranq”) is a powerful animal tranquilizer not approved for human use. Illegal drug manufacturers and distributors mix Xylazine with Fentanyl to prolong the effects of Fentanyl. However, Narcan, commonly administered to people suffering from a Fentanyl overdoes, does not reserve the effects of Xylazine.

CPD investigators conducted a lengthy and intensive investigation into Mr. Nail’s death. This led to evidence that Nail had obtained the drugs that led to his death from Burley. CPD then contacted the GBI West Metro Regional Drug Task Force (which covers 36 counties, including Newton) to assist with the investigation. Arrest warrants for Burley were obtained on June 21, 2023. On that same day, a search warrant was executed at Burley’s residence on Highway 81 in Newton County. That search discovered approximately 6 grams of fentanyl at this residence. This amount formed the basis for the Trafficking charge as possession of 4 or more grams of fentanyl is considered a trafficking amount. 

Matthew Burley

After Burley’s guilty plea to Involuntary Manslaughter, Distribution of Fentanyl (for the drugs provided to Nail), and Trafficking Fentanyl, he was sentenced to 15 years to be served in prison without parole or any possibility of early release followed by 15 years on probation.

The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Randy McGinley, Senior Victim Advocate Shay Payne, Trial Assistant Danielle Miller, and Legal Assistant Desiree Kozikowski. The CPD investigation was led by Lt. Daniel Digby and former Investigator Dave Stewart (now with the Walton County District Attorney’s Office).

This tragic case demonstrates the DA’s Office’s commitment to prosecuting those that distribute deadly drugs like Fentanyl. In 2023, there were over 70,000 overdose deaths in the United States from synthetic opioids, with about 70% attributed to Fentanyl. Those that sell and distribute these drugs need to be aware of the harsh consequences they face for spreading this poison in Newton and Walton County.

I commend the Covington Police Department and the GBI for their hard work and dedication to addressing the plague of these deadly drugs.

Randy McGinley

District Attorney

Alcovy Judicial Circuit