Clayton County State Court clears jail calendar: multiple pleas entered, probation revocations ordered

Clayton County State Court Judge Tammy Long Hayward convened the Tuesday jail calendar and resolved a series of negotiated pleas, no‑contest pleas and probation revocations that produced jail time, credit for time served and court‑ordered treatment. The court also scheduled a bond hearing for a defendant with two state‑court matters and announced community warming‑center resources for clients being released.

The court accepted several negotiated pleas. Maria ("MJ") Tortorello repeatedly represented defendants whose pleas the judge accepted, including Brandy Harris, who pleaded guilty to theft by shoplifting (2026CR01223). The factual basis presented by the state said officers recovered $29 in stolen items from a Family Dollar at 5638 Riverdale Road; Judge Hayward sentenced Harris to 12 months with 29 days credit for time served and probated the balance, and barred her from returning to that Family Dollar during the sentence.

Rakim T. Halbert (2026CR01785) pleaded guilty to shoplifting and entered nolo contendere pleas to criminal trespass and making a false report arising from an incident at a Walmart on Highway 85. The court accepted…