Clayton County State Court resolves multiple arraignments Feb. 11; pleas, probation and short jail terms ordered

Clayton County State Court Judge Hayward on Feb. 11 in Courtroom 304 processed an arraignment and jail calendar that resulted in multiple pleas and sentencing orders, including probation, community service, restitution and short jail terms.

The most consequential outcomes included a guilty plea in a family-violence case and a mix of suspended fines, community-service orders and short jail stays. Several defendants who were in custody received credit for time served; one defendant was conditionally released into a relative’s custody.

Judge Hayward accepted a guilty plea from Alfonso Pierre Baker to a family-violence battery charge. Baker was sentenced to 12 months probation, required to complete a 24-week family-violence intervention program and 40 hours of community service; a $300 fine was suspended and the court ordered no violent or harassing contact with the victim, Jolanda Christina Norman. Counts 2–4 were ordered to merge with count 1.

Patoya Sequenti Pinkney pleaded guilty to shoplifting after the state presented video evidence and testimony that the total loss was $315.44. The court sentenced Pinkney to 12 months to serve with 20 days in custody, gave credit for time already served, probated the remaining time, and imposed 50 hours of community service in lieu of a $500 fine; she was ordered not to return to the Walmart location in Clayton County for the 12-month term.

Terrell Chante Tompkins pleaded guilty to criminal trespass and two counts involving providing a false name/date of birth. The court imposed 12 months with 30 days to serve, crediting time served; the balance was suspended. Fines for the false-name counts ($300 each) were suspended and ordered to run concurrent with count 1.

Keisha Kelly entered a nolo contendere plea to criminal trespass. The court imposed 12 months with 70 days to serve but authorized immediate release if Kelly’s sister, Kina (K I N A) Marie Kelly, arrived to take custody; otherwise Kelly will serve the 70 days. The judge said the sentence would be suspended upon release into her sister’s custody.

The court accepted a negotiated nolo plea from Essence Hawkins (simple assault – family violence). Hawkins was placed on 12 months probation, ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and anger-management instruction, and directed to have no violent or harassing contact with the victim; the $300 fine was suspended and the court agreed to suspend probation supervision fees for four months.

Bria Monet Coleman’s probation revocation hearing resulted in revocation with credit for time served; probation was closed and the case disposed after the court accepted probation’s recommendation.

John Franklin Ratliff (probation revocation) was sentenced under probation’s recommendation: 30 days to serve with credit for time in custody; his case was closed following service.

Iceland (Philip) Dobbins pleaded guilty to a family-violence offense tied to a preexisting bond order prohibiting contact; the court imposed 12 months with 60 days to serve (credit applied), suspended the remaining balance and ordered completion of the family-violence intervention program. The judge emphasized no contact with the victim or children except as ordered by a Superior Court family-law judge; the court prioritized the intervention program over fines in follow-up.

Other dispositions on the calendar included: - Rita Herrera Torres: negotiated no-contest plea for window tint and no license; fine $500 for count 1 (about $737.50 with surcharges) with 60 days to pay and instructions to obtain paperwork for bond refunds. - Yolanda Banks: court returned Banks to probation with credit for time served; she must pay outstanding fines/fees and report in person on the date the court set. - Lakisha Monet Diamond Miles: entered plea and was placed on 12 months pay-only probation with a $100 fine (plus surcharges) and $800 restitution; probation will terminate when fines/restitution are paid. - Terrell Jenkins (listed as a squatting/trespass matter earlier): pleaded guilty to criminal trespass and providing false identifying information; the court imposed 12 months with 30 days to serve, balance suspended, and warned him not to return to the incident location.

Several judges’ instructions and probation conditions accompanied the orders; many defendants were placed in breakout intake sessions with probation staff immediately after pleas to complete restitution or reporting steps. Where defendants were in custody, the court applied credit for time served to reduce or satisfy short-term sentences.

Ending: The court paused or reset a small number of cases for discovery or because an updated police report was pending; Judge Hayward repeatedly emphasized the importance of reporting to probation and completing required programs as the primary means to avoid re-arrest and to resolve outstanding sentences.