County employee is charged with fraud
A Richmond County Human Resources employee was arrested and charged with depositing fraudulent checks into her account.
Cathy D. Jones, 50, of 2919 Norgate Drive, was charged with three counts of deposit account fraud, according to a Richmond County Sheriff's Office report. Ms. Jones was accused of depositing three fraudulent checks valued at $17,000 into her account.
She withdrew some of the money via several transactions, according to the report . She was arrested on Tuesday and bonded out of jail Wednesday.
Man arrested on rape, kidnapping charges
A man sought by police on charges of rape and kidnapping was arrested Thursday.
Melvin Germany, 42, was arrested about 11:45 a.m. at Room 201 of the Scottish Inn at 1636 Gordon Highway, according to Richmond County sheriff's Investigator Blaise Dresser.
Mr. Germany was booked into the Richmond County jail on charges of rape, kidnapping, aggravated assault, theft by receiving stolen property and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Reward is offered for help in robbery case
Richmond County authorities are offering a $1,000 reward for help in finding three people wanted in the armed robbery of a Wrightsboro Road Check Exchange store earlier this month.
Two black men, one armed with a handgun, approached an employee as he was opening the store shortly before 7:30 a.m. and forced him inside, according to a Richmond County Sheriff's Office release. The suspects forced the man to deactivate the alarm and open the safe. They stole an undisclosed amount of cash, ran a short distance and got into a red compact car, possibly a Ford Focus, according to the release. A third suspect is believed to have been driving the getaway car.
Anyone with information can call (706) 821-1080 or (706) 821-1020.
Man surrenders to police in assault case
One of Aiken County's most wanted has turned himself in to authorities after seven months on the run.
Carlos Allen, 32, of the 2100 block of Sassafras Road, went to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, Sgt. Dave Myers said in a news release.
Mr. Allen was charged with kidnapping and criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature.
On Feb. 15, police say, Mr. Allen assaulted a woman and held her against her will in a home on Tommy Lane.
Woman sent to prison in fatal hit-and-run
A Warrenville woman will spend at least 10 months in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to her role in a fatal hit-and-run.
Ginger Taylor Carpenter was sentenced to one year for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, said Second Judicial District Solicitor Strom Thurmond Jr.
She will be eligible for parole after serving 85 percent of her sentence, Mr. Thurmond said.
Two motorcyclists leaving an Aiken bar on Storm Branch Road in May 2008 crashed into one another, and Ms. Carpenter's car hit one of the drivers, James Cohrs, Mr. Thurmond said.
The 56-year-old man died. The other biker involved received minor injuries.
Ms. Carpenter will serve her sentence in Columbia.
Video to be released in school officer firing
The Richmond County school system has scheduled a news conference today about the recent firing of a school safety officer involved in a physical confrontation with a 14-year-old at a Sept. 11 football game.
The school system is expected to release the video of the incident involving former Officer James Holmon and the teenager at the Academy of Richmond County.
Mr. Holmon was fired Tuesday after an investigation found he had used excessive force.
Several school officials said they saw Mr. Holmon confront the teen, throw him to the ground, place his hands around his neck and tell him several times "I will kill you," according to his termination letter.
The school system is also expected to release the investigative report today.
Authorities try to ID pair in store robbery
Columbia County authorities are trying to identify two men in connection with a Sept. 10 robbery of a Martinez jewelry store.
Police arrested two people -- Gerson Romero, 25, and Elisa Johanna Martinez, 24 -- shortly after police say they and two other men used guns and knives to rob the Gold Shop at 3817 Washington Road.
Police think they fled to South Carolina.
Driver service centers to close for furloughs
Georgia's Department of Driver Services announced Thursday that it has scheduled four furlough days for its customer service centers and administrative offices throughout the state.
Those centers and offices, including those in Augusta and Evans, will be closed Oct. 22, Nov. 19, Dec. 18 and Jan. 28, according to a news release, which says historical data was examined to identify days with the fewest transactions.
AP Scholars named at Augusta Preparatory
Augusta Preparatory Day School released a list students who have been named AP Scholars for their achievement on Advanced Placement exams.
Ten qualified for the AP scholar with distinction: Steven Brown, Caroline Catchpole, Yutong Dong, Chelsea Fechter, Joseph Hall, Laura Lemley, Maryclaire Regan, Matthew Shafer, Alyson Sheppard and Andrew Ding.
Seven qualified for the AP scholar with honor designation: Drew Alexander, Morgan Campbell, Brittany Cropper, Elena Evans, Alexander Kazragis, Christina Hefron and Julian Salazar.
Receiving the AP Scholar designation were: Catherine Abate, Bradley Davis, John Duggan, Jaclyn Frazier, Matthew Giannelli, Binford Griffin, Jennifer Hicks, Jackie Howard, Daniel Hull, Chelsea Kerr, Collier McLeod, Kelley Peel, Catherine Tisler, Jeanette Traver, Robert Yu, Deema Elchoufi, Daniel Hull and Alexander Shaw.
Grant to make housing more energy efficient
The Housing Authority of Augusta has been awarded a $222,727 federal grant to make Oak Pointe Apartments energy efficient.
The competitive grant is part of $500 million awarded through Public Housing Capital Funds that will allow public housing authorities to build or renovate affordable rental apartments and make existing public housing units more energy efficient. The grants are provided through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Driver is injured in school bus wreck
A Morgan Road Middle School bus was involved in a wreck about 4:30 p.m. Thursday on Tobacco Road. No pupils were injured, but the driver of a vehicle in the wreck was taken to a hospital for a minor injury.
Richmond County schools spokesman Louis Svehla said the accident occurred when the driver of bus No. 244, which was transporting about 15 pupils along Tobacco Road, attempted to turn left onto Crest Drive.
Richmond County sheriff's Deputy Alan Alspaugh said the school bus hit two vehicles.
The bus driver, Kathryn McDavid, was cited for failure to yield right of way, officials said.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
So, Cathy Jones can't divert county funds? I wonder if that law will apply to ALL county employees?
Well, I guess using subsidy money to make an entire housing project more energy efficient (for $222k) will be a way to spend more subsidy money.
anything to make those who can work(but don't) that live in public housing with 5 or more kids a little more comfortable, i guess that's okay and an efficient why to spend money....NOT!!!!!
Test?! OMG, I forgot to study!!!
thats ok eyes, he failed it too......lol
LOL..don't let betty beard near any of that money...I bet she has more than one fat friend!
So let me get this straight... Ginger Taylor Carpenter runs over a motorcyclist and kills him, and then drives away. And now she must serve TEN MONTHS in jail for her crime. Wow. If you want to kill someone, make sure it's a biker! They are real cheap. Disgusting.
she did not cause the accident. she ran over him after he was in the accident. she is charged with leaving the scene, not murder.
So he was dead already. She ran over a dead body. I don't get it. She either did or she didn't. I think he was alive and she ran him over and killed him, which would mean his life was worth less than a year. My!MY! What happened to "we should be in control of our car at all times".