Clayton County State Court resolves multiple arraignments and pleas; bond reduced with random-testing condition

Clayton County State Court Judge Tammy Long Hayward presided over a Dec. 2 arraignment and jail calendar that resulted in multiple pleas, fines and a bond reduction with monitoring conditions.

The calendar opened with routine announcements and the first arraignment for Raheem Brown, who told the court, “I can represent myself.” Brown pleaded guilty to speeding in a school zone (reported as 48 mph in a 25-mph zone) and concealing a vehicle identification tag. The state recommended a $200 fine for the speeding count and $100 for the concealing count; Judge Hayward explained surcharges raised the totals to about $298 and $151.50. The court placed Brown on pay-only probation (up to 12 months) that would terminate when fines and fees are paid, and offered a 60-day payment window before supervision fees or additional probation requirements would apply.

Julia Dunlap appeared on charges of possession of marijuana (one ounce or less) and an improper signal. The court accepted the state’s recommendation to dismiss the marijuana count (“no process”) and to accept a no-contest plea to the improper-signal charge. The fine for the moving violation was set at $100 (about $151.50 with surcharges), and the court granted up to 60 days to pay when requested; the clerk was instructed to send sentencing paperwork and payment instructions by email.

Attorney Glenn Stern told the court he represented Colin Andrew Hamill and said, “We’ve worked out a negotiated resolution,” under which Hamill would plead guilty to an amended county disorderly conduct count for a $200 fine; earlier counts were nol prossed. The court accepted the plea, set the fine (with surcharges raising it to about $298), and allowed 30 days for payment because Hamill was not physically at the courthouse that day; the court also walked counsel through sending email contact information and online-payment directions.

On the jail calendar the court addressed a defense request to reduce bond for Sante Gonzales from $8,500 to $1,500. The state registered no objection; the court reduced bond but imposed conditions: Gonzales must not use alcohol or illicit drugs and would be subject to random screens while out on bond. The judge ordered a bond-modification to be sent and directed probation to handle the random testing conditions.

Several other jail-calendar matters were resolved or scheduled. Joe Huggins entered a no-contest plea to a disorderly-related count; the state recommended 12 months with 14 days credit for time served and a stay-away order from MARTA property. Elisheva Weathers entered a no-contest plea to criminal trespass (case listed as 2022CR00633); the state recommended 12 months with seven days’ credit for time served, and Weathers disputed parts of the state’s factual account (she said she was not at the airport for three days). The court accepted the plea and ordered credit for time served and release with instructions for payment or supervision where applicable.

Juan Michael Fletcher’s criminal trespass matter was resolved with the court imposing 12 months and granting 41 days’ credit for time served after defense counsel described assaults and injuries the defendant said he suffered in custody. The court said the balance would be suspended if Fletcher had no new violations of Georgia law and agreed to notify the judge handling the defendant’s pending VOP (violation of probation) calendar.

The court also noted several names for which notices were returned and bench warrants or bond forfeitures were requested or recorded. At the close of the calendar the judge gave routine directions for release with the sheriff’s office and for follow-up communications by the clerk and probation staff.

The calendar’s outcomes included pleas accepted by the court, fines assessed with surcharges, short payment windows or pay-only probation in lieu of immediate custody, a bond reduction conditioned on no-alcohol/no-drug monitoring and random screens, and multiple bench-warrant notations for defendants who did not appear. The clerk was instructed in multiple matters to send paperwork and payment instructions by email, and probation staff were asked to enroll and monitor defendants placed on pay-only probation or subject to random screens.

Courtroom business was handled without jury trials; the judge repeatedly advised defendants that by pleading they gave up trial rights and that pleas could affect immigration status for noncitizens. The proceedings ended after the jail calendar with standard administrative closing instructions and release directions.