Across the area

Man sentenced to 10 years in shooting case

An Augusta man who told detectives that God told him to shoot another man pleaded guilty Friday.

William S. Davis, 29, who has a history of mental illness, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for aggravated assault and weapon violations for the March 27, 2007, shooting of Juan X. Tanksley.

Mr. Davis admitted in Richmond County Superior Court that he shot Mr. Tanksley outside the 13th Avenue Community Grocery Store. Mr. Davis must pay Mr. Tanksley $20,290 for medical expenses.

Woman says assault, kidnapping was hoax

THOMSON -- A 34-year-old Columbia County woman who claimed she was kidnapped and assaulted during a shopping trip to Thomson earlier this week was charged Friday with making up the story.

Tabatha C. Barton, of the 5100 block of Whiteoak Road, Appling, was charged with false reporting of a crime, a misdemeanor, according to Thomson Police Investigator Lt. Scott Whittle. Ms. Barton was being held in the McDuffie County Law Enforcement Center Friday night. Ms. Barton's arrest came after she confessed to making up a story that she was abducted at knifepoint and later attacked after buying groceries at the Wal-Mart in Thomson shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday, Lt. Whittle said during a Friday news conference at the police department. "She admitted that she lied about the whole thing," Lt. Whittle said, but that she never indicated why she made up the hoax.

Bank robbery suspect caught in W. Virginia

West Virginia state police have arrested a man accused of robbing a North Augusta bank Jan. 20.

Joseph Wade Northington, 27, of Catawba, Va., was arrested during a traffic stop in Beckley, West Virginia, said North Augusta Public Safety Detective Jon Nelson. He is accused in the robbery of Security Federal Bank on Martintown Road.

Detective Nelson said his office received information that Mr. Northington was in West Virginia. Officers found the gun used during the crime and some of the money taken among Mr. Northington's property, Detective Nelson said. The FBI will indict Mr. Northington on federal charges next week, Detective Nelson said.

No students on board in school bus collision

No students were on board a Columbia County school bus that collided Friday morning with a tractor-trailer near Harlem.

The driver of bus No. 9121, 27-year-old Khaijah Dorsey, of Harlem, was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital to be treated for non life-threatening injuries after the 6 a.m. crash, said Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris.

Mr. Dorsey was driving west on Gordon Highway near Lou Lane when an eastbound tractor trailer, driven by Jamison Arrington, 24, of Keysville, crossed the center line and struck the front of the bus, Capt. Morris said. Mr. Arrington, who was not injured, was found to be at fault in the crash and was charged with failure to maintain lane, Capt. Morris said.

Woman is charged in counterfeit purse case

An Evans woman has been charged after police seized hundreds of counterfeit designer items from her home Friday morning.

Grace Emma Anderson, 38, was charged with a forged or counterfeited trademark violation and taken to the Columbia County Detention Center without bond, said Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris. Between 500 and 750 items were confiscated from 700 Brownsfield Lane near Riverwood Parkway, Capt. Morris said.

The seized knock-off merchandise, which valued at a retail price of $200,000, included purses, wallets, jewelry and other similar items purportedly from such designer companies as Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel and Coach, Capt. Morris said. Authorities believe the operation had been going on for about a year, Capt. Morris said.