Arraignment calendar: multiple bench-warrant forfeitures, plea changes and PTI resets at Clayton County State Court

Judge Tammy Long Hayward opened the Feb. 13, 2025, 1 p.m. arraignment calendar in Clayton County State Court with a routine explanation of defendants’ rights and potential penalties, then moved through a slate of case-by-case procedural outcomes.

The court granted multiple bench-warrant bond forfeitures, accepted some pleas and reset several defendants for additional review or PTI enrollment. The calendar also included a nol pros (no prosecution) entry, a waiver, and rescheduling when an interpreter was not available.

Why it matters: Arraignment calendars set case status, deadlines and conditions that determine whether defendants remain in custody, enter diversion programs or proceed to trial. The court’s decisions on bond forfeiture, plea acceptance and PTI eligibility change immediate custody and case-processing outcomes for defendants and can affect local jail population and court schedules.

Votes at a glance

- Bench-warrant/bond forfeitures granted (last call announced in court): Alvar Cruz (bench warrant/bond forfeiture); Dominique R. Gay (bench warrant/bond forfeiture); Etta Partisan (bench warrant/bond forfeiture); Quentin Dante Taylor (bench warrant/bond forfeiture). (Case numbers not specified in the record.)

- Nol pros / dismissal announced by the state: Tiffany Monique Cooper — the state moved to nol pros / “no offense” and the matter was not pursued. (Case number not specified.)

- Waiver filed / defendant released: Christopher Deshaun McCoy — counsel filed a waiver and the defendant was released. (Case number not specified.)

- Pleas entered / accepted: Rafael (John Shakir Raphael) — entered not guilty pleas on two shoplifting-related matters and will remain on the trial calendar; Kamari Eric Johnson — entered two no-contest (nolo) pleas (see separate article for full details). James O'Bett Chavez announced not guilty pleas for his calendar appearance. (Case numbers specified elsewhere only for some defendants.)

- PTI offers / resets: Cameron Infantry — state offered pretrial intervention (PTI); court reset his matter roughly 60–90 days to allow enrollment and payment arrangements. (See separate article on PTI resets.)

- Interpreter / scheduling: Maria Sanchez Escalera — hearing continued to Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. because a Spanish interpreter was unavailable today. The court directed that she appear by the same electronic sign-on then.

- Community-service conditional reset: Nikira Danielle Lewis — the state offered a chance to complete 60 hours of community service by March 6, 2025; the defendant will return March 11 at 10 a.m. to show proof. The state specified that the community service must be with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (not a school or church) and must be verifiable.

Other procedure notes

Judge Hayward repeatedly reminded defendants of the right to counsel and to avoid self-incrimination, telling the courtroom, “You have the right to have an attorney represent you.” The judge also cautioned commercial drivers and young drivers about license consequences and explained bond-condition consequences and potential penalties if conditions are violated.

The court directed attorneys and clerks to coordinate breakout-room conferences for plea negotiations and to notify the clerk’s office when disposition language must be corrected (for example, to reflect a guilty rather than a no-contest disposition). The judge invited counsel to return with paperwork when necessary so clerks could amend records.

Ending: Cases not resolved today were reset to specific dates for proof of compliance, PTI orientation or continued appearances; the calendar will reconvene in court as scheduled.