I hope there's no early release for fools firing guns during a robbery. Bubba needs a friend for "pick up the soap".
Session delays Harbin case
Rep. Ben Harbin, R-Evans, won't be in court to answer for a drunken-driving charge until after the session of the General Assembly finishes, according to his lawyer, Robert Highsmith.
Mr. Harbin, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, was arrested May 20 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after his Nissan slammed into a power pole about 1 a.m. in Atlanta. According to the police report, Mr. Harbin said he was swerving to avoid a pedestrian in the road, but witnesses told officers they noticed no one walking in the street at the time.
The case has been postponed several times during the fall. With the Legislature beginning its 40-day session Monday, Mr. Harbin's chairmanship makes him one of the busiest lawmakers because his committee oversees the details of the state's spending plan for the year.
Edwards will speak at USC Aiken tonight
Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards will be in Aiken tonight.
According to his Web site, Mr. Edwards will be speaking at 7:15 p.m. at the University of South Carolina at Aiken's Etherredge Center, located at 471 University Parkway in Aiken.
Another "Bringing it Home" rally is scheduled for earlier in the day at the Barnwell County Historical Museum. His Web site says that visit is set for 2:15 p.m. at the museum, which is located at 9426 Marlboro Ave. in Barnwell.
Teens get 15 years for armed robbery
Two teenagers who fired gunshots during a daytime robbery of a fast-food restaurant pleaded guilty Friday.
Tyvyn D. Brown and Aboubakar Camara, both 16 years old, were sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years probation.
The pair pleaded guilty in Richmond County Superior Court to armed robbery for the March 20 afternoon holdup of the Zaxby's on Harper-Franklin Avenue near Fort Gordon's Gate 1.
Armed robber gets life without parole
A man convicted of armed robbery, his second, was sentenced to life without parole Friday.
Judge Carl C. Brown Jr. imposed the sentence on Lyjuan M. Smith, 29, who was convicted in Richmond County Superior Court. He robbed John's Service Station on July 22, fleeing as the owner fired several shots at him.
Assistant District Attorney Johnny Markwalter said the life sentence was mandatory because of Mr. Smith's prior conviction for armed robbery.
Judge reduces prison sentence in killing
A judge agreed Friday to reduce the prison sentence of a woman involved in a 2006 homicide.
Lisa Morse, 32, pleaded guilty last year to voluntary manslaughter. She drove the van that ran over 55-year-old Charles D. Johnson at Third and Watkins streets on Aug. 18, 2006. Ms. Morse testified against Marcus Funck, 29, in Richmond County Superior Court. She told the jury Mr. Funck grabbed cocaine out of Mr. Johnson's hand and held on to him as she drove off. Mr. Johnson fell or Mr. Funck pushed him from the van, which ran over his body.
Ms. Morse, initially sentenced to 20 years in prison, was re-sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by two years probation. Mr. Funck was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Condition of rescued worker has worsened
The condition of a man rescued earlier this week from a collapsed trench was downgraded to serious Friday, according to a spokeswoman for Medical College of Georgia Hospital.
William Gillenwater was initially listed in fair condition and was upgraded to good condition Wednesday. But Friday morning his condition became serious, the spokeswoman said.
Mr. Gillenwater and Lee Hobbs were working on sewer lines in a trench along Blue Ridge Drive in Martinez about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday when the trench collapsed, emergency officials said. Mr. Hobbs, of Hobbs and Sons Construction Co., was able to dig himself out and was treated at MCG for minor injuries and released, the spokeswoman said.
Service restored after water main breaks
Water service was restored about 9:50 a.m. Friday to a neighborhood near Lake Olmstead, according to the Augusta Utilities Department.
A water main broke at 3 a.m., leaving 25 to 35 houses in the area without water. Residents on Blue Bird Road, Red Bird Road, Flythe Drive and Bedford Drive were affected.
MCG Eye Care Center offers lunch event
A glaucoma lunch and learn event will be offered by Medical College of Georgia's Eye Care Center from noon to 12:45 p.m. Monday.
The free session, which will be held at the MCG Medical Center, 1120 15th St., in the Terrace Dining, Magnolia/Dogwood rooms, will be led by Dr. Sandra Johnson, an ophthalmologist and glaucoma specialist for the MCG Eye Care Center. Participants are asked to bring a lunch and a friend. For more information, call (706) 721-1165.
2 people arrested in downtown robbery
Two people were arrested Friday in connection with an armed robbery that police say happened late Thursday at the intersection of Ninth and Ellis streets.
Police arrested Chrisola Trashun Tarver, 26, of the 100 block of Huyck Court, and Anthony Orlando Jones, 17, of the 900 block of Cedar Street, at 1075 Bertram Road early Friday, according to Richmond County sheriff's jail records. They are both charged with armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, the records state.
Man's injuries lead to arrest in burglary
A cut on a man's left arm was enough to lead to his arrest on burglary charges Thursday.
Benjamin Mitchell, of Wylds Road, is accused of breaking two windows of Mann Memorial United Methodist Church at 2705 Milledgeville Road and stealing $40 from a jar, a Richmond County sheriff's report states.
Deputies found blood around the windows and when they located Mr. Mitchell, he had bandages and a cut on his arm, according to the report.
-- From staff reports
Comments
I hope there's no early release for fools firing guns during a robbery. Bubba needs a friend for "pick up the soap".
Life is fair. No parole for 2nd armed robbery. He must be Bubba.
Ms Morse and Mr Funck should have both received life. Then no deal making would have been necessary.
Break into a church to steal $40? More dumb crook news.
On the Ben Harbin DUI story: Wow, this Republican really is connected to the right people! A normal tax paying citizen would have already been sentenced. I guess from George Bush on down, this political party is above the law. It's time for them to leave, at the federal, state and local level.
Bush, Harbin, and Barbee, really great leadership!
lol.. its possible baroness
Since the witnesses said they didn't notice anyone walking in the street at the time of Harbin's incident, maybe they were in a car or in a building with a view of the street and could see the politician lose the vehicular argument with the power pole. But perhaps Mr. Harbin really thought he was swerving to avoid a pedestrian and it just turned out to be those pesky DT's again.
The Harbin blurb makes me think of something I saw on TV a day or two ago where the leader blared: "Britney Spears rushed to hospital after custody standoff with police!" Had that been you or me, the local headline would have read: "Woman rushed to jail after custody standoff with police!" Same sort of situation with our local representative. I imagine that his committee (the one that stays so busy overseeing details of the state's spending plans for the year that he can't possibly appear in court to answer the charges against him) will opt out of setting aside extra funding for MADD and DARE. I wonder if he still drives to work.
When a politician breaks the law, the local police walk softly. Remember when Cynthia McKinney punched out a policeman for asking for her ID? It's a perk of the job. The average citizen doesn't get a pass. What's new?
Cynthia McKinney, what a loony tune and embarassment to GA. Can you believe she is running for President. I bet she needs the money so will keep the donations.
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