Clayton County State Court resolves multiple arraignment and jail-calendar cases; family-violence plea draws restitution and program conditions

Judge Tammy Long Hayward presided over the Clayton County State Court arraignment and jail calendar in May 2025 and accepted guilty or negotiated pleas that resolved a string of cases, producing a mix of short jail terms, suspended sentences, fines, probation and program requirements.

The courtroom disposed of several matters that had been awaiting resolution. The most consequential outcome involved Celeste Victoria Watts, who pleaded guilty under Georgia’s First Offender procedures to a family-violence battery charge. The court imposed 12 months’ supervision with 3 days to serve, credited three days already served, ordered 40 hours of community service, enrollment in a 24-week family violence intervention program, random drug and alcohol testing, no contact with the identified victim and restitution of $100 to Rose’s Discount Store (4851 Jonesboro Road, Forest Park). Prosecutor Miss Ponder told the court the state would nolle prosequi a separate theft count in exchange for Watts’s plea; the victim, Faith Williams, made a victim-impact statement and sought restitution. Judge Hayward warned Watts that violating no-contact or probation terms could lead to revocation and further jail time and said, “No contact whatsoever with the victim.”

In other plea disposals, the court accepted:

- A guilty plea from Todd Lambert (case 2025CR03982) to criminal trespass. The state recommended and the court ordered 12 months with 19 days to serve (credit for time served) and suspended the balance. The judge admonished Lambert not to return to the Amoco at 6333 Highway 42 in Rex, Georgia, saying, “Do not go back to the Amoco.”

- A guilty plea from Christopher Lamar Odister (case 2025CR04071) to two counts (theft by taking and tampering with evidence). The court sentenced Odister to 12 months with 145 days to serve (credit for time served), with the balance suspended; the sentence on the two counts will run concurrently. The prosecutor said the theft occurred in the intake area at the Clayton County Jail and was captured on camera.

- A negotiated disposition for Xavier Warner (case 2022CR01398): the state moved to dismiss counts 1–3 and Warner entered a no-contest plea to count 4 (improper lane change). The court accepted a $100 fine (with surcharges) and the case was resolved per the parties’ agreement.

- Antoinette Caesar McCray (2021TR05969) entered a no-contest plea to counts 1 and 3 (no license and no tag). The court imposed 12 months with 11 days to serve (credit for time served) and suspended the balance; fines were suspended as negotiated.

- Larry Weaver (2025CR04399) pleaded guilty to criminal trespass for returning to an Exxon at 226 North Main Street in Jonesboro after prior notice not to return. The court sentenced Weaver to 12 months with 60 days to serve (credit for time served), with the balance suspended on condition he not return to that Exxon.

- Gerard Elijah Peoples (2025CR03985) pleaded guilty to counts related to family disturbance. The court accepted negotiated terms: 12 months with 30 days to serve (credit for time served) with the balance probated, enrollment in anger-management classes, 40 hours of community service and an additional 20 hours tied to a suspended fine; no contact with identified victims was ordered.

Several other items were procedural: the state moved to recall a bench warrant for a defendant who appeared, the court entered bench-warrant bond forfeitures for absent defendants from the arraignment calendar, and some matters were continued (for example, a case involving Elizabeth Mascatter/Mascoter remained a not-guilty plea and the court declined to reduce bond after the prosecutor objected). The court also continued at least one case (miss Roberts) to the next jail calendar for what the defense described as likely a nonnegotiated plea.

Throughout the session, Judge Hayward emphasized compliance with probation conditions and community-program requirements. For Watts and others placed on probation, the judge stressed the importance of attending ordered classes and checking in with probation officers, noting that missing program sessions could lead to revocation. Prosecutors and defense counsel confirmed factual bases and negotiated recommendations on the record before the court accepted the pleas and pronounced sentences.

The calendar concluded with several cases resolved, a handful continued to future jail calendars, and outstanding bench-warrant and bond-forfeiture matters noted for administrative follow-up.