News

Man Pleads Guilty To 2022 Murder of His Mother:

With trial expected to start next week, Shane Stark entered a plea of guilty but mentally ill to the murder of his mother, Makhyal Stark Pohlel (pictured) as well as numerous aggravated assault and firearm possession charges from firing rounds at law enforcement that responded to the scene.

In January of 2022, the Defendant called 911 and reported that he had killed his mother with a shotgun. Numerous deputies with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene, including the SERT team. As deputies entered the home attempting to locate the victim and the Defendant, Stark fired multiple shots in the direction of the deputies. Eventually, Stark surrendered to law enforcement.

After the case was indicted, the Defendant, through his attorney, asked for a court-ordered mental evaluation regarding both competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility. The defense also obtained a private evaluation. After the completion of those evaluations, the Defendant filed Notice of Intent to Raise the Issue of Insanity and Special Plea of Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity.

The Defendant withdrew that contention today as part of the guilty plea. The Defendant was sentenced to Life in Prison plus 12 years in prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Tara Murphy, Chief Investigator Josh Chambers, Senior Victim Advocate Donna Brandenburg, and Legal Assistant Heather Johnson. The arrest and investigation were handled by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

A guilty but mentally ill plea and sentence functions essentially the same as a guilty plea. The Defendant was sentenced to life in prison and will be in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections. However, the Department shall evaluate the Defendant and consider any mental health issues when determining appropriate penal facility placement. Further, such a plea allows the Department of Correction more authority to transfer a defendant who suffers from an acute mental health issue to be temporarily transferred to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities for care in a state mental health facility.

If the Defendant had proceeded with an insanity defendant and a jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity, he would be detained in a state mental health facility to be evaluated for his present mental condition within 30 days. If he were found to meet criteria for involuntary inpatient treatment, he could be kept in a state facility. However, if he did not meet that criteria, he could have been released from custody.

“Cases involving mental health are difficult both factually and legally. I commend the hard work of the prosecution team that led to this outcome of the Defendant accepting responsibility for the murder of his own mother. The Defendant has received a sentence of life in prison for his actions, providing some level of closure to the family. I want to personally recognize the SERT team of the Sheriff’s Office who were able to safely apprehend the Defendant while keeping themselves and public safe.”

Randy McGinley

District Attorney

Alcovy Judicial Circuit

Walton County Sheriff's Office Hosts District Attorney's Office For Day of Training at Gun Range:

Last week, both the Newton and Walton District Attorney Offices were closed for a day of training at the Walton County Sheriff's Office gun range. About 50 members of the DA's Offices attended the day that included lecture type training, small group training, and time on the range firing handguns.

District Attorney's Office at Walton County Sheriff's Office Firearm Range Training Room

The training was led by Lt. Jeff Taylor, who discussed topics such as self-defense, firearm safety, and firearm operation. Lt. Taylor then joined with Lt. Bo Huff, Cpl. James Jackson, Sgt. Matt Hensley, and Deputy Mark West provided further training in small groups along with District Attorney's Office Investigators Josh Chambers, Eric Yarbrough, Randy Temples, and Danny Peppers. While some with the DA's Office have extensive experience and training with firearms, some had never fired a handgun.

Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Bailey Wilkinson also taught on safely and persuasively presenting firearm evidence at trial.

"I am grateful to Sheriff Keith Brooks for his commitment to collaboration between his office and the District Attorney's Office. Joint training like this goes a long way to making both our offices better at keeping our communities safe. Lt. Taylor's extensive knowledge and pride in what he does made this a wonderful event for every member of my office. I extend my continued thanks to every member of the Sheriff's Office that helped with this training. I also want to thank every Investigator in the District Attorney's Office. In addition to the hard work they put in every day to ensure our office obtains justice for those victimized by crime, they keep the rest of the office safe and secure."

Randy McGinley

District Attorney

Alcovy Judicial Circuit

Monroe man in his 60s pleads guilty to second lifetime sex offense:

With a jury trial scheduled for next week, Eugene Seats pleaded guilty today to Aggravated Child Molestation, Aggravated Sexual Battery, and Sexual Battery Against a Child Under the Age of 16. Seats had previously served a prison sentence after pleading guilty to Child Molestation, Statutory Rape, and Incest in Newton County in 2006.

The investigation into the current case began in July of 2023 when the minor victim fled her home to call 911. Officers responded and the victim told them that Seats, who was in a relationship with the victim's mother, had been sexually abusing the victim. The victim was later forensically interviewed where she described the abuse in detail.

The State had previously sought, and the Court allowed, evidence of the 2006 child molestation to be admitted if the case proceeded to trial. The victim in that case was prepared to testify about the facts that led to Seats' guilty plea in 2006.

After hearing from the State and the defense, the Court sentenced Seats to 25 years to serve without parole followed by life on probation. Seats will be in his late 80s when he is released from prison.

In March of this year, the victim's mother in this case, Rene Long pleaded guilty to Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree for her actions and inactions to allow the victim to continue to be around and alone with Seats. Long was sentenced to 10 years with the first 2 years to be served in confinement.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Lacey Majors, Victim Services Directory Kim Kelly, Chief Investigator Josh Chambers, and Senior Legal Assistant Melanie Sims. The arrest and investigation was handled by the Monroe Police Department. The victim received services from A Child's Voice Child Advocacy Center.

Randy McGinley

District Attorney

Alcovy Judicial Circuit