Across the area

Authorities charged a 16-year-old boy Wednesday with sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl, Richmond County sheriff's records state.

Barry Edward Swingler Jr., 16, of the 1100 block of Anderson Avenue, was charged as an adult with felony aggravated child molestation, jail records show.

According to the police report, the teenager is accused of forcing the girl to perform a sex act on him in August.

The Richmond County Association of Educators, the local affiliate of the National Education Association, announced its endorsements for the Nov. 7 election.

The association is endorsing Alex Howard, Jack Padgett and A.K. Hasan in the three contested elections of the Richmond County Board of Education.

The educators association also gave each of the three candidates a $1,000 contribution.

The Georgia Department of Labor lauded the success of its Jobs for Georgia Graduates program by praising three participating Richmond County high schools.

Cross Creek, Josey and Laney high school students who were in the program in 2004-05 had a graduation rate 13 percent higher than the state average rate of 71 percent. Statewide, the 960 seniors in the program graduated at a rate of 89.5 percent.

Jobs for Georgia Graduates uses school-based specialists to assist students with career guidance, work skills, motivational activities and job development.

Candidates for Georgia's 12th Congressional District will take part today in a debate sponsored by AARP Georgia and the CSRA Coalition of Advocates for the Aging.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. John Barrow, a Democrat, and former U.S. Rep. Max Burns, a Republican, will take part in a debate from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Augusta's Julian Smith Casino, 2200 Broad St.

Attendees will have an opportunity to submit written questions.

Richmond County sheriff's investigators are still awaiting the results of an autopsy on a woman who died this month after having been severely assaulted earlier this year.

Sherry Rose Murphy died Oct. 13 at the Augusta Hills Nursing & Rehab Center, where she was put under care after a brutal attack in January that left her in a vegetative state.

Carl L. Jones and Michael Christian Clay were charged with sexual battery and aggravated assault in the Jan. 9 attack.

Police have charged an Augusta man with sexually assaulting a 23-year-old Augusta woman, Richmond County sheriff's reports show.

Marquis O. Lawrence, 33, of the 2000 block of Third Avenue, is accused of entering the victim's home through her son's bedroom window and punching her before forcing her to have sex with him Tuesday.

Authorities arrested an Augusta woman Wednesday after they said she recanted an assault accusation while in State Court.

Latasha Nichole Scott, 27, of the 2400 block of Oak Ridge Road, was charged with making a false report of a crime, which is a misdemeanor, police records show.

Richmond County sheriff's Investigator Paul Evans said Ms. Scott made a report of an assault in 2005, but recanted her statements during court.

A Clemson University psychology professor will spell out some of the causes of road rage Friday at Augusta State University.

Dr. Thomas W. Britt's presentation, titled The Experience and Determinants of Road Rage, is part of Augusta State's psychology speaker series.

It will take place in the W1002 Science Building at noon.

For more information, call the university's psychology department at (706) 737-1694.

James Brown Arena officials released the complete list of their group of finalist candidates Wednesday for the open general manager position at the facility.

Andrew Matthey, of Ohio, will be interviewed today, as will local candidates Reggie Williams, the former civic center general manager, and local record store owner and promoter Robert "Flash" Gordon, Coliseum Authority officials said.

Candidate John A. Anderson, a former Monroe, La., city employee, was interviewed last week.

Richmond County authorities are still seeking the man who robbed a Gordon Highway convenience store at gunpoint Oct. 8.

Richmond County sheriff's Investigator Paul Godden said several leads are being followed in the robbery at A's Package Store at 1857 Gordon Highway.

Anyone with information leading to an arrest in the case should call the Richmond County Sheriff's Office at (706) 821-1080.

Two Augusta residents were injured Wednesday evening after their truck plunged down an embankment next to the Augusta Canal.

Daryl Lee, 19, and Charity Boyd, 25, were both injured when an older model truck driven by Mr. Lee fell about 30 feet from the canal towpath into the drainage basin, said Richmond County Fire Battalion Chief Mike Weathers.

Ms. Boyd was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital for leg injuries, he said.

The Saturday Market on Broad will present the new Fall Produce Market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on Macartan Street, said Jennifer Walden, market coordinator.

A record number of vendors have signed up to participate with the Fall Produce Market, she said.

- From staff reports