Dion Seats entered negotiated pleas in two related matters at the Aug. 28 Clayton County State Court arraignment calendar, resolving a school-incident prosecution and a related traffic matter.
The prosecutor described an April 27, 2023 incident at Point South Middle School in which investigators concluded the defendant engaged in aggressive conduct toward teacher Alexis Washington and put her in reasonable fear. For the school-related case the state recommended that Count 1 (simple assault) be no prossed, Count 2 (disruption of school operations / terroristic threats) be resolved by probation and a fine, and Count 3 (disorderly conduct) carry a short jail term with probation and community service.
Why it matters: The plea package addresses conduct in a school setting, imposes conditions meant to prevent contact with the alleged victim and requires rehabilitative steps such as anger-management and community service.
Under the negotiated terms the court accepted no contest pleas to Counts 2 and 3 in the school case; the state recommended and the judge imposed 12 months probation with a $500 suspended fine for Count 2, a directive not to return to the incident location (Point South Middle School) and a no-contact order with the victim. For Count 3 the judge ordered 12 months with two days to serve (credit for time served), balance probated, a $200 fine, 30 hours of community service and anger-management treatment. The court also accepted a negotiated plea on a separate speeding case; the speeding fine was set at $200 and ordered to run concurrent with the other case.
Judge Tammy Long Hayward explained the probationary requirements and told Seats that completing the sentence terms could lead to early termination of probation. She also cautioned that failing to report to probation or violating no-contact conditions could result in rearrest.
Seats addressed the court to describe the circumstances that led to the dispute and to say she believed school staff had not responded appropriately to an earlier assault on her child; the judge and prosecutor advised reporting incidents to police promptly and emphasized the benefits of parental involvement in schools to prevent escalation.