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 the plea, imposed a 12‑month sentence with 90 days to serve (credit for time served) and ordered as a condition that Halbert not return to any Walmart in Clayton County.

Shantaria Ray entered negotiated pleas on multiple matters (2024CR01931 and 2026CR02570). For the 2024 case the court accepted a guilty plea to the primary battery count, merged other counts, and imposed 12 months with 15 days to serve (balance probated), a $500 fine, 40 hours of community service, completion of a family‑violence intervention program and a no‑contact order with the named victim. A separate 2026 case was resolved by plea to a battery count with 12 months (90 days to serve) and concurrent treatment and no‑contact conditions; credit was applied for time already served.

The calendar also included multiple probation revocation proceedings. Reginald Lamont Lyons (2022CR020515) stipulated to a violation; the court ordered 12 days revoked with credit for time served, return to probation, a reevaluation by March 6, testing at each report, weekly community support meetings and completion of a risk‑reduction course by March 20. Kenneth Mahone (2025CR08374) — a disabled veteran who reported receiving VA care — received 19 days’ credit, return to probation and an evaluation by March 5 with similar testing and meeting requirements as long as the programs were documented. Bruce Ricardo Otero Reyes (2024CR08860) was given 90 days with credit since 01/30/2026 or the option to have the case closed on payment of $1,162 in restitution. Brandon Turner and Gary Williams each received shorter revoked terms with credit so their cases could close after service of the ordered time.

Other accepted pleas and dispositions included Jeremiah Leandre Jones (nolo to criminal trespass, 12 months with 23 days to serve and credit), Paul Jonas Robinson (nolo pleas to disorderly conduct and two counts of terroristic threats; concurrent 12‑month terms with 20 days credit, 40 hours community service, anger management and fines), Jonathan Joel Rucker (no‑contest pleas resolving a multi‑count traffic/drug matter with fines, credit for time served and certain counts held no process) and Chase Alexander Shears (guilty to DUI; 12 months with 28 days credit, 40 hours community service, a substance‑abuse evaluation, treatment recommendations, random testing and a risk‑reduction course).

The court also addressed a procedural issue for a defendant with two separate state‑court case numbers (including an older 2023 matter). Because a bond motion had been filed under the prior magistrate case number and did not carry forward automatically, defense counsel asked for a bond hearing; the court set a bond hearing for March 16 at 10:00 a.m. so both sides could be heard and advised that conditions (house arrest, monitoring, higher bond, testing) could be imposed if bond were granted.

Judge Hayward closed the calendar with a public‑safety announcement: because temperatures were forecast to drop, she directed that released clients be advised of warming centers — Anointed Vision of Hope at 8049 Webb Road in Riverdale (on MARTA route 191) and a warming room at Clayton County Police Department headquarters (7911 North McDonough Street) — and asked probation staff to pass that information at intake.

The court moved one remaining matter (Andrew Wilcox, an MH matter) to a breakout for a case‑specific update; Judge Hayward signed orders electronically after the calendar and adjourned.