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Newton County Jail Log - Jan. 1
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o Ivy Elisa Ingram, 33, 4139 Ponderosa Drive, Covington, Dec. 17. Reckless driving, fleeing or attempting to elude, DUI.

o Jeremy Jamel Jones, 32, 2470 Fairview Road, Covington, Dec. 15. Simple battery.

o Charles O’Neal Lawrence, 30, 615 Mills Drive, Covington, Dec. 21. Contempt of court.

o Hillis Mitchell Lawson, 23, Conyers, Dec. 18. Possession of marijuana less than one ounce.

o April Lynn Lewis, 19, 235 Spring Court, Oxford, Dec. 18. Sentenced to serve weekends.

o Harvey Lee McCullers, 62, 9131 Westview Drive, Covington, Dec. 16. Family violence Act simple battery.

o Wendell Hollis McGowan, 50, 3528 North Main St., Mansfield, Dec. 19. Terroristic threats and acts, Family Violence Act third degree cruelty to children.

o Larry Gene Miller, 72, 20 Lake Charles Crossing, Covington, Dec. 16. Family Violence Act simple battery.

o Kenneth Harold Mozingo, 41, 110 Woodland Ridge Circle, Covington, Dec. 21. Driving while license suspended.

o Russell Lee Nelms, 42, 730 Almon Church Road, Covington, Dec. 15. Open container, improper lane usage, DUI.

o Bruce Smith Perry, 18, 25 S. Greenfield Circle, Covington, Dec. 20. Theft by taking.

o Lindsay Lisette Phillips, 24, Lithonia, Dec. 18. Disorderly conduct.

o Darrian Benoria Rogers, 48, 35 Ivy St., Covington, Dec. 19. Public drunkenness.

o Cinqurious Raymon Roulhac, 18, 1093 Cedar Ridge, Apt. B, Covington, Dec. 17. Theft by shoplifting.

o Angela Renee Simmons, 42, 210 Shenandoah Drive, Covington, Dec. 18. Court sentenced.

o Stephanie Rae Smith, 24, 130 Dove Point, Covington, Dec. 18. DUI, improper lane usage.

o Demario Quinzon Stanley, 24, 10125 Blackwell St., Covington, Dec. 18. Criminal trespass, obstruction or hindering law enforcement officer, abandonment of dependent child.

o Huie Carl Stewart, 44, 818 Hightower Trail, Oxford, Dec. 19. Battery, second degree cruelty to children.

o Johnathan Lewis Tatman, 30, Conyers, Dec. 20. Accessing of computers.

o Brian Thornton, 37, Cuthbert, Dec. 17. Child support default.

o Joseph Matthew Wheelis, 18, 370 Malcom Road, Covington, Dec. 19. Furnishing to, purchase or possession of alcohol by minor.

o Cheryl Mannette Wiley, 32, 46 South Broad St., Porterdale, Dec. 16. Hold for Henry County.

o Mark Staffron Williams, 41, 1925 Old Concord Drive, Covington, Dec. 16. DUI alcohol and drugs.

o John Kurt Williamson, 51, 3128 Fairview Road, Covington, Dec. 19. Family Violence Act battery, third degree cruelty to children.

o Aeisha Jay Willis, 18, Decatur, Dec. 18. Theft by shoplifting, giving false name or address, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, theft by shoplifting.

o Quanteria Santesia Willis, 17, Decatur, Dec. 18. Theft by shoplifting, giving false name or address, obstruction or hindering law enforcement officer, contributing to the delinquency of minor, theft by shoplifting, obstruction or hindering law enforcement officer.

o Larry Eugene Yates, 42, Conyers, Dec. 15. Abandonment of dependent child.

o Keaton Gerrod Young, 20, Conyers, Dec. 15. Theft by shoplifting.

o Susan Chappell Zorbaugh, 40, 95 Windsong Drive, Covington, Dec. 15. Simple battery, tampering with evidence.

o Jerry Wayne Allen, 60, 9 Birch St., Porterdale, Dec. 26. Sentenced to 200 days.

o Frank Charles Amato, 50, 100 Edgefield Lane, Covington, Dec. 22. Child molestation, aggravated child molestation, sexual battery.

o Bryan Keith Anderson, 36, Conyers, Dec. 26. Theft by receiving stolen property.

o Kerry Michael Benton Jr., 36, 535 Anderson Creek Road, Covington, Dec. 28. Burglary.

o Willie Antonious Bigby, 21, 8170 Geiger St., Covington, Dec. 28. Discharge of gun or pistol near public highway or street, possession of arms by convicted felons and first offender probationer.

o Christopher Eugene Black, 51, 3184 Mill St., Covington, Dec. 22. DUI first offense, vehicle turning left, open container, notice of change or address or name.

Covington man sentenced to 26 years in prison on child molestation, rape charges
brandon jamal keitt
Brandon Jamal Keitt - photo by Newton County Sheriff's Office
NEWTON COUNTY — Brandon Jamal Keitt, a 31-year-old Covington man will spend substantial time in prison after submitting a guilty plea to a slew of charges yesterday in Newton County court.


According to a news release from the Newton County District Attorney’s Office, Keitt pled guilty to rape, aggravated child molestation, child molestation and enticing a child for indecent purposes.

 
Keitt was sentenced to 26 years behind bars with no parole. He will then spend life on probation and on the sex offender registry.


The case originated when the victim and her mother, whose identities and ages were withheld by the DA’s Office, visited the emergency room at Piedmont Newton Hospital. This sparked an investigation by the Covington Police Department, who were assisted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab and DA’s Office.

 
The investigation led to Keitt’s arrest on Feb. 26, 2023, according to The Covington News’ jail log. According to his booking report, Keitt was arrested at his home in Covington.
According to the DA’s Office release, the victim and her family indicated that they preferred for the case to be resolved with a guilty plea and a sentence. However, Keitt’s guilty plea was not submitted until jury selection had been made and the State read its opening statement.


“[The victim and her family] were able to be in court, along with law enforcement and others that were set to testify, when the Defendant admitted under oath that he was guilty and did commit the crimes,” the DA’s release stated.


The DA’s office and District Attorney Randy McGinley extended thanks to police for resolving this case.


“I want to specifically thank lead Detective Kyle Tesky and DA Chief Investigator Whire for their work on this case, including traveling to New Jersey as part of the investigation,” the release stated. “This shows the commitment of the District Attorney's Office and the Covington Police Department to ensure justice for victims, especially child victims. They were assisted by the Woolwich Township Police Department and the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.”