Former Deputy Sentenced to Prison for Violating His Oath of Office:

Yesterday, May 21, a Newton County jury found George Rahming guilty of three counts of Violation of Oath by Public Officer. The three separate counts of violating his oath of office were based on the following conduct by Rahming while on duty, and in uniform, in July of 2023:

• Committing the offense of Sexual Contact by an Employee in the First Degree;

• Committing the offense of Solicitation of Sodomy;

• While on duty, buying condoms, taking the victim to a secluded area, soliciting sex acts, and having sexual intercourse.

These offenses began when Rahming pulled his patrol car next to a woman who was walking on the side of the road in his attempt to pretend he was doing so just to help her. Each of these offenses carry a minimum sentence of 1 year and a maximum sentence of 5 years.

George Rahming - convicted of 3 Counts of Violation of Oath of Public Officer

After the verdict, the Court held a sentencing hearing. The State and defense asked the Court for vastly different sentences. Ultimately, the Court sentenced the Defendant to 15 years with the first 7 years in prison along with numerous conditions.

The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Randy McGinley, Chief Assistant District Attorney Amber Dally, Chief Investigator Kelly Whire, Victim Services Director Leslie Smith, Victim Advocate Sophie Conner, Trial Assistant Danielle Miller, and Legal Assistant Desiree Kozikowski. The investigation was handled by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Law enforcement was first contacted by hospital staff when the victim disclosed what had occurred. The Newton County Sheriff's Office (NCSO) responded immediately to the hospital. Because the incident took place close to the county line, it was initially unclear what agency the perpetrator worked for. NCSO investigators interviewed the victim and then obtained surveillance footage from a gas station. It was then that they determined this involved the Defendant, who was employed as a deputy. Sheriff Ezell Brown immediately contacted the GBI to request them to take over the investigation.

I commend Sheriff Brown, his deputies and investigators that were involved in the initial investigation, and the GBI for their hard work and professionalism in this investigation. This conviction does not serve as a statement against law enforcement, but against one person, this Defendant, who used his authority and power for improper purposes.

Randy McGinley

District Attorney

Alcovy Judicial Circuit

Guilty plea in 2022 murder at General Mills:

This morning, just before jury selection began, Jalen Brown pleaded Guilty but mentally ill to Felony Murder, 3 counts of Aggravated Assault, 3 counts of Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony, and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute. These offenses arose from the Defendant shooting and killing his coworker, Zachary Foster on May 29, 2022 at General Mills in Covington.

Brown was sentenced to Life in Prison plus 5 years. Georgia law provides that someone pleading guilty but mentally ill will receive the same sentence as someone that pleads guilty. However, for a defendant that pleads guilty but mentally ill, the law provides the Department of Corrections ability to refer a defendant for temporary hospitalization to a facility operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Such a facility will still be a secure facility. The defendant must also meet the legal definition of mentally ill.

Zachary Foster

Prior to the date of the crimes, the Defendant had been acting increasingly paranoid. This was due to mental health issues but aggravated by the Defendant's drug use. On May 29, 2022, the Defendant brought a handgun with him to work. Supervisors approached the Defendant to address his behavior, but the Defendant ran to a different area of the plant, obtained his firearm from a bag, and shot and killed Foster.

Brown then fled General Mills. A coworker pursued trying to keep sight of him. As Brown fled, another individual saw Brown running down the road with a firearm. That individual stopped his car and began to back up away from Brown. Brown then fired again at both the coworker and the person in the vehicle. Just after this shooting, Covington Police Officers quickly arrived and took Brown into custody.

Jalen Brown

Brown was interviewed and admitted to shooting Foster. During this interview, he also expressed hearing voices and paranoia (about things that had not actually happened). Two days later, a bag was found near General Mills. That bag contained several forms of identification belonging to the Defendant and more than 14 ounces of marijuana.

The prosecution was led by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jillian Hall as well as Assistant District Attorney Madison Caito, Investigator Colin Cunningham, Victim Advocates Madison Sanders and Sophie Conner, Trial Assistant Danielle Miller, and Legal Assistant Desiree Kozikowski. The arrest and investigation were handled by the Covington Police Department with assistance from the GBI Crime Lab.

Guilty verdict in May 2023 murder of Jaquavious Lackey:

The trial of State v. Jacarie Anttwonn Justice (20 years old at the time) ended this morning with a verdict of guilty of all counts for the murder of Jaquavious Lackey (19 years old at the time) at a residence on Lawn Way in Newton County on May 29, 2023. Justice was found guilty of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Possession of Firearm During Commission of a Felony, and Cruelty to Children in the Third Degree.

The trial began with jury selection on Monday April 27. Beginning on Tuesday, the State presented witnesses and evidence that showed the following: Lackey had a child with the Defendant's sister. Lackey came to their residence when an altercation began with Lackey's child's mother, the Defendant, and the Defendant's girlfriend trying to fight Lackey. After being attacked by multiple individuals, Lackey broke free and proceeded to grab a firearm from his vehicle. Lackey then fired the gun into the air.

Jaquavious Lackey

The parties then separated. The Defendant and others saw Lackey then put his firearm into his car. Lackey then approached the Defendant wanting to fight and throwing a punch at the Defendant. The Defendant took out his own firearm, despite knowing that Lackey was no longer armed, and shot the victim. Lackey then ran away, but the Defendant shot him two more times in the back. Lackey fell to the ground. The Defendant then went to where Lackey had fallen and shot him one more time in the chest as Lackey lay defenseless on the ground.

A neighbor's home surveillance camera recorded the entire incident. This video was played for the jury multiple times. A juvenile neighbor saw the shooting through his window. He described seeing Lackey on the ground and in no way a threat to the Defendant when the Defendant stood over Lackey and shot him.

At trial, the defense argued that he acted in self-defense. The Court instructed the jury thoroughly on the law of self-defense and that there is no duty to retreat when acting in self-defense. During deliberations, the jury rewatched the Defendant's interview and the surveillance video of the incident. The jury's verdict shows that they unanimously rejected the Defendant's self-defense argument.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Bailey Wilkinson, Investigator Danny Peppers, Victim Services Director Leslie Smith, Victim Advocate Madison Sanders, Trial Assistant Danielle Miller, and Legal Assistant Sheila Cornelius. The investigator and arrest were handled by the Newton County Sheriff's Office with assistance from the GBI Crime Lab. Juvenile witnesses received services from A Child's Voice Child Advocacy Center.

The Court ordered that a pre-sentence investigation be completed with sentencing hearing to be scheduled once that report is completed.

Sadly, young men involved with firearms continue to make decisions that have drastic and long-lasting consequences. I want to thank the prosecution team and the entire office for their hard work prosecuting this emotional case.

DA Randy McGinley