OFFICE OF THE DEKALB COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
STONE MOUNTAIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
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NEWS FROM DISTRICT ATTORNEY SHERRY BOSTON
DECEMBER 2018
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Happy Holidays!
It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of yet another year, my second as District Attorney. We began this remarkable journey with a vision of creating a New DAy for DeKalb County by employing an innovative and balanced approach to prosecution.
We remain committed to victim advocacy and offender accountability while simultaneously employing "smart" prosecution strategies that incorporate prevention/intervention, education, and awareness initiatives.
I am proud to be at the forefront of the local conversation surrounding criminal justice reform and leading the charge for fair and just prosecution.
My staff and I rounded out the second half of our year with our annual DV symposium and elevated our conversation into a call to action in that arena as well. We also teamed with other partners to promote victim advocacy and training opportunities in the areas of elder abuse and exploitation, human trafficking, and juvenile justice reform. We also received grant funding to participate in a joint metropolitan sexual assault cold case task force.
Finally, our team has had a number of prosecution successes via trial jury and plea disposition and we have proudly celebrated the accomplishments of several team members who received statewide appointments and recognition.
I am so proud of the team we have built and the impact we are making in our community. It is indeed an honor and a privilege to serve. Bring on year three!
I look forward to connecting with you in the New Year with more exciting news and information from the Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney.
In the meantime, we wish you and your loved ones the happiest of holiday seasons.
Sincerely,
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District Attorney
Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit
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A Second Chance: Criminal Justice Reform in the Spotlight
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On December 20, 2018, a convicted armed robber serving life without parole at Hancock State Prison in Sparta, Georgia was re-sentenced in DeKalb County to time served in the nearly two decades-old case and then released. The rare legal action was the result of an ‘Extraordinary Motion for New Trial’ brought by the Southern Center for Human Rights on behalf of Defendant Christopher Williams, now 45.
Williams was convicted in 2000 for the 1999 armed robbery of a DeKalb County liquor store, during which he served as an unarmed lookout. Following his conviction, Williams was sentenced as a recidivist to a mandatory life without parole term because of a previous armed robbery conviction as a teenager. His co-defendant, the gunman, was sentenced to ten years in prison.
At the time of Williams' conviction, the law provided no judicial discretion for a lesser sentence. The law has since changed. Given his extensive sentence, Williams’ defense attorneys championed his case and petitioned District Attorney Boston for resentencing options, which the two sides presented to the Court for consideration upon agreement.
Immediately following the Court’s granting of the Defendant’s Extraordinary Motion for New Trial, Williams entered a guilty plea to the original charge of Armed Robbery.
DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Asha Jackson, who presided over the hearing, subsequently resentenced Williams to the recommended sentence agreed upon by the State and Defense of twenty years, to serve 19-- with credit for time served and the balance probated.
Williams had served 19 years and three months in prison prior to his release.
During a subsequent press conference, DA Boston detailed the factors impacting her decision to consent to the 'Extraordinary' motion. Among them, the District Attorney’s commitment to criminal justice reform, including, but not limited to, fair and just prosecution, and appropriate sentence recommendations
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'God bless y'all': DeKalb man's life sentence overturned ...
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston agreed to release the man because the mandatory minimum law that led to his life sentence is gone. It comes when lawmakers are becoming more open to criminal justice reform, as evidenced by President...
Read more
www.ajc.com
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The District Attorney's Office had a number of prosecution successes this year, including the conviction of a reputed gang boss; a guilty plea from a rogue police officer tied to a drug dealer theft scheme; and a life sentence for a man convicted of drowning his newly adopted son. These cases and more are detailed in the following press release gallery.
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2018 DeKalb Legislative Luncheon
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District Attorney Boston teamed with DeKalb County Sheriff Jeff Mann to host the DeKalb Legislative Delegation in December for an informal meet and greet and information session with law enforcement partners. The group discussed a variety of topics ranging from criminal justice legislation and reform to strengthening community ties.
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Building Bridges, Making Connections: A Call To Action
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8th ANNUAL DV SYMPOSIUM & RESOURCE FAIR
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In October, DA Boston hosted her 8th Annual Domestic Violence and Community Resource Fair in commemoration of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This year’s program centered upon elevating the "Coordinated Community Response" of years past into a "Call to Action." Participants rose to the challenge with thoughtful contemplation about how the greater community can raise awareness and proactively partner to prevent domestic violence.
Tamiko Lowry-Pugh, Founder, of
The Still Standing Alliance
, delivered a rousing keynote address detailing her personal story of survival and her journey from pain to purpose.
Event sponsors, Appriss Safety, Ashley Derrick of Keller Knapp Realty, and supporting partners, who offered information and resources to participants, were once again integral to the program’s success. DCTV Channel 23 provided live television coverage of the event for audiences at home.
Watch the rebroadcast below.
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VICTIMS VISITORS' DAY
In April, the Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney served as host agency for the 2018 ‘Victims Visitor’s Day’ in partnership with the Georgia Office of Victims Services and the State Board of Pardons and Parole.
The annual event, which rotates District Attorney venues statewide each year, is designed to provide victims of crime with face-face interaction with members of the Parole Board and connect them with victim-centric resources.
This year’s event coincided with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and was the largest in the program’s twelve year history.
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DA BOSTON CHOSEN AS ONE OF
ATLANTA'S 500 MOST POWERFUL LEADERS
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DA Boston will grace the special edition cover of
Atlanta Magazine
in 2019. Boston was chosen as one of
Atlanta's 500 Most Powerful Leaders
. The prestigious list of Atlanta's 500 includes mentions of the city's most influential people
from artists to chefs, philanthropists to sports coaches, and corporate executives.
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2018 "CHAMPION FOR CHANGE"
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As a non-profit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence, WRC chooses each year to recognize members of the Greater Atlanta community who work to advance that mission.
DA Boston was selected for her longstanding domestic violence prevention and advocacy efforts in Georgia.
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In March, DA Boston was proudly featured in the Women's History Month edition of DCTV's "Let's Talk DeKalb!"
She discussed her vision for DeKalb and her passion for public service.
Missed it? Watch now!
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EXEMPLARY SERVICE
Chastity Rogers, Director of the District Attorney’s Victim Witness Assistance Program, has been appointed to the Georgia Commission on Family Violence.
She was sworn in by Governor Nathan Deal at the State Capitol in August.
Chastity also received the Deborah Coker McDorman Award by the DeKalb County Domestic Task Force in October.
The award recognizes individuals for exemplary humanitarian and domestic violence prevention advocacy efforts
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F.B.I. TRAINING
Deputy Chief Investigators Steve Barresi and Michelle Flinn attended the F.B.I. Georgia Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar in Atlanta.
The week-long seminar provided advanced training in Organizational Ethics and Crisis Management.
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OPERATION PRIORITY PACKAGE
DA Investigator Crystal Caraballo was recognized by U.S. Attorney B.J. Pak of the
United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia
for her work with the
FBI Atlanta Field Office
Public Corruption Task Force on "Operation Priority Package" last year.
The investigation resulted in the arrest of 16 postal employees for taking bribes in exchange for the delivery of packages containing cocaine.
Congratulations on a job
well done, Crystal!
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BEHIND THE SCENES
Deputy Chief ADA Jeanne Canavan shared her elder abuse expertise during the taping of a national law enforcement training video for the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Great job, Jeanne!
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ASSOCIATION OF PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS CONFERENCE
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The District Attorney's Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (DV/SA) Unit participated in the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys 2nd Annual National Domestic Violence Prosecution Conference in Kansas City during the summer.
Chief Assistant District Attorney, Jennifer Stolarski,served as a speaker during the conference—sharing innovative strategies for addressing and reducing intimate partner violence.
Jenni is recognized nationally for her DV expertise and her role in increasing survivor safety and offender accountability.
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DA BOSTON TO CHAIR
ATLANTA CONFERENCE
District Attorney Boston has been selected as conference Chair for the 36th Annual National Black Prosecutors Association’s Conference & Job Fair scheduled to be held in Atlanta next year.
The announcement was made during NPBA'S 2018 summer conference in Denver which DA Boston and several staffers attended along with a consortium of other Metro Area prosecutors representing the Fulton and Henry County District Attorneys' Offices and the DeKalb and Fulton County Solicitor-General' Offices.
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Community Awareness & Engagement
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The District Attorney’s Office hit the streets in August to celebrate National Night Out.
The annual community building campaign aims to promote law enforcement-community partnerships and camaraderie in an effort to improve neighborhood safety and quality of life.
DA Boston joined city leaders at National Night Out events in Clarkston, Decatur, and Tucker.
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Community Affairs Director Sonja Brown and VWAP Director Chastity Rogers braved the cold November temps during Covenant House of Georgia’s annual Sleep Out campaign to raise money and awareness about the issue of youth homelessness.
The Sleep Out was held in cities across the Country to raise funds and awareness about youth/young adult homelessness.
Within 72 hours of being on the streets, a homeless youth is approached for sex. 49% of homeless youth have been sexually exploited, 72% of homeless youth have experienced or witnessed violence, and 42% of homeless youth have experienced abuse as a child.
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Mental Health Court Graduation
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Community Day with the Sheriff
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Attorney of the Year
Mirna Andrews
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Victim Advocate of the Year
Meagan McKinnon
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Investigator of the Year
Takita Green
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Trial Assistant of the Year
Patrice Thomas
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Paralegal of the Year
Shaun Pritchett
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Staff Member of the Year
Gaby Ziegenbein
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Special Unit of The Year
Major Case Unit
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Special Unit of The Year
Victim Witness Assistance Program (VWAP)
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Trial Division of the Year
Division 2
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THE YEAR AHEAD:
LOVE RUN 5K 2019
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Please join DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston on
February 23, 2019
, for the
4th Annual Love Run 5K
in commemoration of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
All proceeds will benefit the advocacy and prevention programs of the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence.
The Love Run will follow a fast course through Downtown Decatur. Awards will be presented for Overall Male/ Female, and in age groups 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-69, and 70 and up.
The race will be electronically timed and is an official AJC Peachtree Road Race qualifier.
Early Bird rates are available now for a LIMITED time!
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Join the conversation @SherryBostonDA
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