Judge Hayward processes May 5 arraignment calendar; pleas entered, fines ordered, multiple bench-warrant forfeitures granted

Clayton County State Court Judge Tammy Long Hayward presided over the May 5, 2025 arraignment calendar in Courtroom 304 and handled a sequence of pleas, continuances and bench-warrant bond forfeitures affecting multiple defendants.

The judge accepted a guilty plea from Treston Jamir Johnson (case 2021CR04734) to one count; counts 1 and 2 were to be dismissed (nolle prosequi), and the court imposed fines and a 30-day payment deadline. The court accepted a combination plea from Kyle (or Case) Prescott (cases 2025CR00637 and 2025CR01270): one case was nolle prossed in full and, in the other, Prescott pleaded no-contest to impeding traffic (count 4) and guilty to an open-container charge (count 6). Judge Hayward set fines for Prescott and gave 60 days to pay the assessed amounts.

The court also accepted a plea from Jamilith (Jamielith) Aranda (case 2022CR03106) to a driving-without-license charge; the state recommended a $1,000 fine and the judge allowed 60 days for payment. Several pretrial-diversion participants were continued to allow completion or verification of diversion conditions, and the court granted resets where prosecutors recommended them.

Throughout the calendar the court granted multiple bench-warrant bond forfeitures for defendants who did not appear on Zoom or in person. The judge announced forfeitures or bench-warrant grants for non-appearing defendants during the session and removed forfeiture requests when the defendant later appeared. The court repeatedly instructed defendants that bench warrants may be issued if they fail to appear and emphasized that it is each defendant's responsibility to keep contact information current with the clerk.

Judge Hayward opened the session with a detailed explanation of rights and plea options, including the right to counsel, the right against self-incrimination and the consequences of a guilty or no-contest (nolo) plea. “If you cannot afford an attorney or you don't have one available to you today, then we can talk about an appointment of an attorney,” Hayward said. She warned commercial drivers to investigate possible effects on their commercial driver's licenses before pleading and reminded drivers under age 21 that four points can trigger a hard six-month suspension.

Several administrative matters and directions were handled during the calendar: the judge instructed remote participants to display first and last names in Zoom so staff could confirm presence; the court used breakout rooms to let defendants show proof of insurance or license or to confer privately with counsel and prosecutors; and the judge coordinated with interpreters and counsel when language access was required.

Decisions announced on the calendar included: plea acceptances with fines and payment dates (see actions), pretrial-diversion resets and confirmations of active diversion status for some participants, and multiple bench-warrant bond-forfeiture orders for non-appearance. The judge closed the arraignment calendar by summarizing outstanding items and directing defendants and counsel to remain in contact with the clerk and assigned counsel for follow-up dates.

The court’s handling of the calendar produced immediate case-level outcomes (pleas, fines, resets) and procedural directions (breakout rooms, deadlines, and warnings about license consequences) intended to move cases toward resolution or trial-ready status. The next scheduled appearances and resets were set on a case-by-case basis and were to appear on subsequent court calendars.