JACKSON COUNTY, Ga. – Investigators in Jackson County have filed additional charges against two individuals previously arrested in connection with a four-year-old child’s alleged cocaine overdose. According to posts from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office on Monday, February 23, Sheena Dawn Shumake, 35, and Joshua Tyler Shumake, 33, are now facing charges of possession of […]
Read More »Man Wanted in South Carolina on Multiple Sex Offenses is Arrested in Franklin County
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ga. – The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man Thursday who was wanted in South Carolina on numerous outstanding warrants, including charges related to the solicitation of a minor. According to the sheriff’s office, deputies received information on February 26, 2026, regarding a subject wanted out of South Carolina for multiple warrants. […]
Read More »Traffic Stop in Franklin County Leads to Meth Trafficking Arrest
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ga. – A routine traffic stop in Franklin County last week resulted in the arrest of two men and the seizure of approximately 10 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said that on February 24, 2026, at approximately 8:27 p.m., a deputy conducted a traffic stop after […]
Read More »Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office Warns Residents About Fraudulent Toll Violation Scam
GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – The Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a fraudulent “toll violation” notice that has been widely shared on social media in recent days. According to a public alert issued by the sheriff’s office, officials have received multiple reports over the weekend and again Monday regarding a document titled “Notice […]
Read More »Rabun County High School Employee Charged With Child Sex Crimes
CLAYTON, Ga. — A Rabun County High School employee has been arrested on multiple child sex crime charges following an investigation by the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office. According to a press release from Sheriff Mark Gerrells, the agency’s Criminal Investigations Division obtained arrest warrants for Ashleigh Wilson, 26, of Clayton. Wilson was booked Feb. 26 […]
Read More »Investigation Underway After Body Found in Cherokee County
CHEROKEE COUNTY, NC – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of an unidentified person whose body was discovered late Tuesday night in the Hiwassee Dam community. According to a news release issued Feb. 26, deputies responded to Cross Creek Lane on the night of Feb. 25 after the individual was located. Authorities […]
Read More »Fannin County Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Meth Trafficking in Cherokee County
FANNIN COUNTY, Ga. — A Fannin County man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after a Cherokee County jury convicted him of trafficking more than a kilogram of methamphetamine. Ricky Dwight Wright, 39, received the sentence Wednesday following a trial in which jurors deliberated for approximately 15 minutes before returning a guilty verdict […]
Read More »Erwin Vanegas Pleads Guilty to Malice Murder
PRESS RELEASE – On February 10, 2026 Erwin Vanegas, a 22 year old man from Rossville, pled guilty to Malice Murder for the murder of 71 year old Robert White on December 5, 2024 in the Catoosa County Jail. Chief Judge Brian M. House sentenced Vanegas to serve life in the Georgia Department of Corrections. […]
Read More »Man Pleads Guilty to Malice Murder
PRESS RELEASE – On February 10, 2026 Joseph Mays, a 34 year old man from Griffin, Georgia, pled guilty to Malice Murder for the murder of his girlfriend Jamie Wiley, a 36 year old Michigan woman. Mays and Wiley, who had only been dating for a few short months, were living in Wiley’s camper at […]
Read More »Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Arrests Suspect in Alleged Heavy Equipment Theft Attempt
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Public Safety Commercial Vehicle Division alerted the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) to a suspected heavy equipment theft ring believed to be targeting a location in Forsyth County. According to authorities, the scheme involved a suspect contacting a tow truck company and directing the driver to a […]
Read More »Chestatee High School Teacher Arrested on Rape and Child Molestation Charges in Banks County
BANKS COUNTY, Ga. – The Hall County School District confirmed Friday afternoon that a Chestatee High School Spanish teacher arrested last week on rape and child molestation charges in Banks County is no longer employed by the district. Felipe Esteban Nunez, 32, of Gainesville, had been employed at Chestatee High School since September 2024. He […]
Read More »Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that Jorge Matilde Gonzalez, 35, of Cartersville, Georgia, has been arrested in connection with a residential fire in Calhoun
PRESS RELEASE – Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that Jorge Matilde Gonzalez, 35, of Cartersville, Georgia, has been arrested in connection with a residential fire in Calhoun, Georgia. On December 9, 2025, investigators from the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner assisted with a fire investigation at 704 Greenbriar […]
Read More »3 Arrested Following Skyline Drive Incident
PRESS RELEASE – Two males and one female have been arrested following an investigation into a report of shots fired at a residence in Toccoa yesterday, February 18, 2026. At approximately 12:48 p.m., Stephens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a report of shots fired and a physical altercation at a residence on Skyline […]
Read More »Two Vehicles Recovered, One Male Arrested Following Thefts
PRESS RELEASE – Sunday morning, Stephens County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a report of a stolen vehicle from a residence on Providence Lane near Freedom Drive in Martin. At approximately 8:50 a.m., an individual contacted Stephens County 911 claiming their Dodge Durango had been stolen overnight. Deputies responded to the residence to take a report […]
Read More »Hiker Airlifted from Appalachian Trail Near Hawk Mountain After Medical Emergency
FANNIN COUNTY, Ga. – A 46-year-old man was rescued Saturday after becoming ill while hiking on the Appalachian Trail near Hawk Mountain in Fannin County. According to emergency officials, Fannin County 911 received a call at approximately 10:39 a.m. on Feb. 21, 2026, reporting that the hiker had become ill and was unable to walk […]
Read More »Gooch Introduces SB 465 to Align State with Donald Trump’s America First Agenda and Crack Down on Illegal Hiring
GEORGIA – February 17 – As State Senator for Georgia’s 51st District and the Republican frontrunner for Lieutenant Governor, I am committed to putting Georgia families first and aligning our state with President Trump’s America First agenda. Last week, I introduced Senate Bill 465, a targeted measure to hold businesses accountable and discourage the hiring […]
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