Wheeler County Grand Jury Indicts Log Truck Driver in Fatal Wreck

The August term of the Wheeler County Grand Jury, in presentments filed August 5, indicted Jimmie Frank Willis of McRae on six counts in the May 1, 2023, death of Charles J. Spinn, 45, of Vidalia.

The accident occurred on U.S. Highway 280 (Georgia Route 30) at the intersection with Erick Road, just outside of Alamo. Following an investigation, the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) faulted Willis, who was driving a log truck owned by WDP Timber LLC of Alamo. According to the GSP report, Willis said he experienced brake failure as he approached the intersection where the mishap occurred.

Spinn, who was deputy warden at Wilcox State Prison in Abbeville, died at the scene, but Willis apparently was not seriously injured. There were no passengers in either of the vehicles involved in the wreck.

The GSP report stated that the Willis was traveling west on Erick Road in a Peterbilt tractor truck with pole trailer when he failed to yield at a stop sign and crossed into the path of Spinn’s vehicle, which was westbound on Highway 280. Spinn’s vehicle struck the left side of the trailer and came to rest on the highway, facing northwest.

After the collision, the log truck traveled onto the south shoulder of the highway, struck three road signs, and continued to travel back onto the highway, crossing both lanes and traveling off the north shoulder of the roadway before coming to rest in the north ditch on the highway.

GSP’s Troop 1 Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team and Motor Carrier Compliance Division conducted further investigations.

Willis was indicted on three counts of homicide by vehicle in the second degree; defective equipment; failure to stop at a stop sign; and driving with the wrong class of license.

Other Indictments

In a case dating to April 25, 2021, the Grand Jury indicted Tevin Lavan McRae of Lumber City for one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and one count of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

In a February 1, 2022, case the Grand Jury indicted Terry Shawn Maddox of Mount Vernon for three counts of child molestation; and one count of sexual battery against a child under 16.

Jalil Daniels of Eastman, an officer at the Wheeler Correctional Facility, was indicted on eight counts in an April 24, 2023, case. Daniels was indicted on one count of the possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; four counts of furnishing prohibited items to inmates; one count of crossing guard lines with drugs; and one count of violation of an oath by a public officer.

Jamarious Treshawn Epps of Jackson, and Kynijal Lee Williams of Washington, were indicted individually and as parties concerned in the commission of a crime on two counts in connection with a September 16, 2023, incident involving a drone at Wheeler Correctional Facility. The men were indicted on charges of using a drone to drop tobacco and rolling papers onto the grounds of the prison; and illegal use of an unmanned aircraft system.

In an October 21, 2023, case, Paul Dixon of Glenwood was indicted on one count of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Dixon was charged with shooting Marty Dixon with a .22 caliber pistol.

Johnathan Brady and Terry Wolf, both of Glenwood, were indicted on three counts stemming from a November 1, 2023, incident. The men were indicted individually and as parties concerned in the commission of a crime for possession of methamphetamine. Brady was also indicted for failure to maintain lane and driving while license suspended during the incident.

In a December 17, 2023 case, Kimberly Solano Lorenzo of Atlanta was indicted on three charges in an incident at Wheeler Correctional Facility. Lorenzo was indicted on one count of crossing the guard lines with drugs; one count of furnishing prohibited items to inmates; and one count of possession of a schedule 2 controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Charles Tyler Brooks of Glenwood was indicted on four counts stemming from a December 30, 2023, incident. Brooks was indicted on one count of possession of methamphetamine; one count of driving under the influence; one count of failure to maintain lane; and one count of drug related objects.

Willie James Dunbar of Villa Rica, was indicted on five counts in a January 6, 2024, case. Dunbar was indicted on one count of criminal use of an article with an altered identification mark (a firearm with manufacturer’s serial number removed); one count of possession of an illegal weapon (machine gun); one count of possession of marijuana (less than an ounce); one count of speeding; and one count of failure to maintain lane.

Tyianna Allen of Eastman and Angel Mattie Scott of East Dublin were indicted on five counts stemming from an incident that occurred at Wheeler Correctional Facility on February 4, 2024. Allen and Scott were indicted individually and as parties concerned in the commission of a crime on three counts of furnishing prohibited items to inmates. Allen, an officer at the prison, was indicted on two counts of violation of oath by a public officer.

Maurice Lynn Johnson, Jr. of Alamo, was indicted on three counts in a February 15, 2024, case. Johnson was indicted on one count of possession of methamphetamine; one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony; and one count of unlawful dumping.

Matthew Thomas Mc-Carthy of Dublin was indicted on six counts stemming from an incident on February 15, 2024. McCarthy was indicted on one count of possession of methamphetamine; one count of possession of a schedule 1 controlled substance; one count of possession of a schedule 2 controlled substance; one count of possession of marijuana less than one ounce; one count of possession of drug related objects; and one count of speeding.

In a March 10, 2024, case, Arlin Edward Harralson, Jr. of McRae-Helena was indicted on three counts. Harralson was indicted on one count of vandalism to a place of worship; one count of obstruction of an officer; and one count of simple assault, family violence.

Nichalas James Sellers of Vidalia was indicted on four counts stemming from an April 22, 2024, incident. Sellers was indicted on one count of burglary in the second degree; on one count of theft by taking; and two counts of criminal trespass.

Brandy Hightower of Dublin and Tyler Woods of Helena were indicted on several counts stemming from an incident that occurred on April 24, 2024, at Wheeler Correctional Facility. Hightower, an officer at the correctional facility, was indicted on one count of making a false statement and one count of violation of oath by a public officer. Woods, also an officer at the prison, was indicted on one count of crossing the guard lines with a weapon; on one count of making a false statement; and one count of violation of oath by public officer.

In an April 26, 2024, case, Erica Chancey of Dublin, an officer with the Wheeler Correctional Facility, was indicted on five counts: violation of oath by public officer; furnishing prohibited items to inmates; crossing the guard lines with drugs; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and making a false statement.

William Benjie Poole of Glenwood and Guadalupe Selena Vargas of Ludowici were indicted on three counts stemming from an incident on May 10, 2024. The pair were indicted individually and as parties concerned in the commission of a crime on one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; one count of possession of a schedule 2 controlled substance with intent to distribute; and possession of drug related objects.

In a May 28, 2024 case, Deangelo Bernard Clark of Atlanta was indicted on five counts: fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer; speeding; failure to stop at a stop sign; reckless driving; and obstruction of an officer.