Grand Jury Returns Indictments in 15 Cases
The Toombs County Grand Jury convened on December 12 to consider 15 bills of indictment in criminal cases presented by Middle Judicial Circuit District Attorney John A. “Tripp” Fitzner III. The Grand Jury returned 15 true bills in a session presided over by Toombs County Superior Court Judge Tommy J. Smith. Additionally, in conjunction with its other duties, the Grand Jury appointed Kathy O’Neal to the Board of Equalization.
Among those indicted was Demario Roundtree, who was charged with homicide by vehicle in the first degree in the March 20, 2021, death of Donnell Wesley Simpson. The fivecount indictment accuses Roundtree of driving under the influence of marijuana as he operated a motor vehicle on Rigsbee Drive in Vidalia and striking and killing the victim. The charges also included reckless driving and driving without a license.
Michael Bryan Johnson, Jr., was indicted on 10 counts in connection with a case of aggravated child molestation which occurred between June 1 and August 24, 2022. Johnson is accused of committing indecent acts with a child of 16, as well as the aggravated assault of a second adult victim by shooting at her, and theft by taking of a cellular phone owned by the second victim and valued at $1,500. In addition to two charges of aggravated child molestation, Johnson was charged with criminal attempt to commit a felony by intentionally attempting to commit the crime of Sexual Exploitation of Children; statutory rape of a minor; child molestation; enticing a child for indecent purposes; aggravated sexual battery; aggravated assault; possession of a firearm by a first offender probationer; and theft by taking.
Otis Lee Harris, Jr., and Cristian Antonio Ramirez were indicted on nine counts in connection with a June 30, 2022, incident in which a man was shot and wounded. Harris and Ramirez were accused of knowingly and intentionally attempting to commit the crime of malice murder in the incident. The two men were also accused of shooting at four other persons present during the incident. These four persons were not wounded. Charges against Harris and Ramirez include five counts of criminal attempt to commit murder and four counts of aggravated assault.
Other indictments include: Kenneth Sentel Brownlee for the offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in a September 1, 2020, incident.
Brownlee was also indicted for battery after allegedly striking a man in the face during the incident.
Steven Alexander Douglas for the offenses of burglary in the first degree and the obstruction of an officer in a December 11, 2020, event.
Israel Navejar for the offenses of aggravated assault-family violence, the possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, cruelty to children in the third degree, and simple battery-family violence, in a December 16, 2020, event.
Sherman Dwayne Kirkland for the offenses of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and theft by receiving stolen property in a February 24, 2021, incident.
Jermaine Maurice Brown for the offenses of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in an April 30, 2021, case.
Malique Rheem Har rington, Marcus Lance Grimes, and Miguel Gutierres for the offense of unauthorized possession of a weapon by an inmate in a June 12, 2021, case.
Anthony Jamar Har vey for the offense of obstruction of an officer in a December 20, 2021, case; Antonio Smiley for the offenses of rape and aggravated assault in a March 5, 2022, incident.
Jerome Gregory Turn quest for the offenses of aggravated assault for shooting at a person and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in an August 20, 2022, incident.
Grable Leon Rhymes, Jr., for the offense of aggravated stalking in an October 8, 2022, case.
Charles Mitchell Key, Jr., for the offenses of aggravated assault-family violence (two counts), aggravated battery-family violence, and battery-family violence, in incidents occurring on October 19, 2022, and November 12, 2022.
Steven Bernard Searcy for the offenses of aggravated stalking and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer in an October 20, 2022, event.
