Across Georgia

Jury probes influence of cult on jail, officers

ATHENS - Although the leader of the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors religious sect is serving a 135-year sentence in a Colorado prison, a Clarke County grand jury is investigating the sect's influence on its jail and sheriff's department.

The grand jury has been examining the events that led to the firing of chief jailer Brett Hart by Sheriff Ira Edwards in the spring, several deputies told the Athens Banner-Herald.

About the same time, Mr. Hart had been investigating whether Nuwaubian deputies were recruiting others - including prisoners - into the sect and if a deputy violated jail policy by corresponding with Dwight "Malachi" York, the leader of the predominantly black sect.

Mr. Hart said Sheriff Edwards hired six Nuwaubian deputies, four of whom were former Macon police officers.

Man is charged with murder after beating

CARNESVILLE - Authorities in northeast Georgia have charged a 42-year-old man with murder after a man beaten with a baseball bat died.

Franklin County sheriff's deputies charged Steve Edward Moore of Martin, Ga., with murder in connection with the June 27 beating of his former roommate Christopher Arnott.

Mr. Arnott, 25, of Martin died at Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville after being on life support for several days.

Deputies found someone who had witnessed the beating and called the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for help.

Authorities have not released a motive for the beating except to say it was related to a burglary.

Beach patrol officer runs over sunbather

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. - A beach patrol officer who drove over a sunbather as she lay in sand will be ticketed for careless driving and fined $115, officials said.

Officer Robert Augustynowski, 43, drove his pickup diagonally across Danielle Taylor as she sunbathed Monday near the Main Street Pier.

The Volusia County officer was driving at about 2 mph, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Ms. Taylor, 20, of Fort Stewart, Ga., was taken to Halifax Medical Center.

Hospital officials would not give details Tuesday.

But Beach Patrol Capt. Scott Petersohn said she was "awake and alert and talking" after the accident.

- Edited from wire reports