Judge Hayward accepts multiple pleas, records bench warrants and resets dates at Clayton County State Court arraignment

Judge Tammy Long Hayward presided over the Clayton County State Court arraignment and jail calendar on March 17, 2026, accepting negotiated pleas, noting multiple bench warrants and bond forfeitures, and setting new dates for unresolved matters.

The session began with routine arraignment business and the judge calling the calendar. The court noted bench warrants on two matters for Rodri James Bailey II and granted the bench warrant request. Alexis Jasmine Bess appeared and, after consultation, waived formal arraignment and entered a not-guilty plea.

Amber Christristen Hoppy appeared on charges including improper lane change and no proof of insurance. Mr. Brooks provided the factual basis that Georgia State Patrol stopped a vehicle on Nov. 1, 2022, on northbound I-75 near Mount Zion and that officers confirmed Hoppy’s vehicle lacked valid insurance. The state recommended count one be nulled and count two carry a $200 fine; Judge Hayward allowed Hoppy 60 days to pay, directed her to provide contact information via the courtroom chat to Deputy Clerk Sierra Willis, and explained online and in-person payment options.

Several defendants had bench warrants or bond forfeitures recorded. The court noted bench warrant and bond-forfeiture statuses for Sorian Dyer Howard, Raymond McCra and others and instructed counsel to confer about bench-warrant recalls or set-aside requests where appropriate. Regginal Cole entered a not-guilty plea and the court discussed setting aside a bench warrant for that matter.

Attorney Jonathan Overman represented Kristen Elaine Koixburg on a failure-to-appear matter; the state recommended nullifying one count and imposing a $100 fine on the other. After a brief conference the court accepted the negotiated disposition and gave Koixburg time to pay according to the court’s standard time frames.

Riley Nordic faced multiple traffic-related charges, including driving on a suspended or revoked license. The court adopted the state's recommended fines (statutory amounts were cited) but reset Nordic’s case to April 14 at 10 a.m. to allow time to address license issues and potential amendments to the state’s recommendation.

On the jail calendar, Jabz Emanuel Tally entered a nolo contendere plea to simple battery (family violence) and, per the negotiated agreement and the factual basis presented by the state, the court sentenced Tally to 12 months with four days to serve and the balance suspended contingent on no new violations of Georgia law; a separate count merged into count one. The court accepted a guilty plea and concurrent sentence for Careshi Yasir (Yashir) Keshi on a battery-family-violence charge with additional counts merging; the court imposed 12 months with 90 days to serve and suspended the balance, ordered no contact with the alleged victim and required concurrent service as negotiated. Dantavius Marcel Green entered a nolo plea to criminal trespass arising from an incident at the mobile gas station at 4209 Jonesboro Road; the court sentenced Green to 12 months with 45 days to serve (balance suspended) and noted credit for time already served.

Throughout the session the judge reminded participants to add full names and email addresses to the chat to allow the clerk’s office to send sentencing and payment instructions; Deputy Clerk Sierra Willis was listed as the contact for follow-up communications. The court repeatedly advised defendants that fines could be paid online or in person at the Clayton County Justice Center and offered payment plans or probation options where eligible.

The court closed after instructing attorneys and defendants to confer in breakout rooms where necessary and confirming there were no further matters on the calendars. Judge Hayward said she would sign the final documents to formalize the day’s dispositions.

Note: The article reflects names and outcomes as recorded during the March 17, 2026 proceedings and limits factual statements about out-of-court allegations to the factual bases presented in court. Where transcript spellings or agency names were inconsistent in the record, this article uses the court’s jurisdiction name (Clayton County) and the court address given in open session.