Across Georgia

Recovery centers will help storm victims

ATLANTA --- Two disaster recovery centers have opened to assist Fulton County and Jefferson County individuals, households and businesses affected by the March 14-16 severe storms and tornadoes.

Officials says the centers will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Morris Brown College campus gymnasium in Atlanta and the Mount Moriah Campground in Matthews.

The centers are staffed with Federal Emergency Management Agency and state agency disaster recovery specialists who help survivors through the process of applying for disaster assistance.

Pupils questioned about bomb threat

LEXINGTON, Ga. --- Three Oglethorpe County Middle School pupils were detained Tuesday for questioning in an alleged threat to blow up the school, authorities said.

It was the second time in five days that pupils from the school were accused of making bomb threats.

Sheriff Mike Smith said the latest three to be questioned could be charged with making terroristic threats.

On Friday, three other middle school boys were charged with making terroristic threats after Sheriff Smith said they threatened to blow up Oglethorpe County High School, which is adjacent to the middle school.

After spending the weekend at the Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center, they were released to the custody of their parents on Monday, Sheriff Smith said.

Ex-assistant DA gets probation for fraud

HOMER, GA. --- A former assistant district attorney in northeast Georgia was sentenced to 12 months probation Tuesday in a fraud scheme orchestrated by his boss.

Superior Court Judge Robert P. Mallis dismissed felony theft charges against Anthony Brett Williams, 37, and allowed him to plead guilty to misdemeanor extortion.

The judge called Mr. Williams a victim, but said he should have realized that he was caught up in a scheme by former District Attorney Tim Madison.

Teen gets life in prison for murder of two men

DUBLIN, GA. --- A teenage girl who robbed and fatally shot two men who had given her and a companion a ride to a motel has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to murder.

Lakeisha Davis, 18, who was 15 at the time of the Aug. 24, 2005, slayings in the central Georgia community of Dublin, entered the plea Monday as a jury was about to be selected for her trial.

District Attorney Craig Fraser said Ms. Davis admitted to two counts of murder and armed robbery in the deaths of Reante Stanley, 26, and Fredrick Williams, 25. She had been scheduled to be tried as an adult.

A 14-year-old girl who was with Ms. Davis at the time of the shootings was initially charged with armed robbery.

According to the district attorney's office, she was later tried in juvenile court on a charge of theft by receiving after it was determined she did not take part in the robbery or murders.

-- Edited from wire reports