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A Fond Farewell
Happy Holidays!
As 2016 draws to a close, I greet you with mixed emotions. This is not simply the end of yet another busy and productive year, it is the culmination of my service as your DeKalb County Solicitor-General. On January 1, 2017, I will venture into a new realm of public service as your DeKalb County District Attorney! I am honored and humbled by the majority vote that propelled me to victory in this race. I appreciate the vote of confidence and vow to serve the citizens of DeKalb County in my new role with the same level of passion and dedication I have given as Solicitor-General.
During my six-year tenure, my staff and I have worked hard to create a balance between prosecution, prevention, and awareness with innovative programs and initiatives both inside, and beyond, the courthouse walls. Some of our accomplishments include our guidance in the development of the Traffic Division, which replaced the former Recorders Court. We also created signature programs designed to raise awareness about important issues such as senior safety, domestic violence, school readiness, parental involvement, and more.
We rounded out the last quarter of this year with our annual Domestic Violence Symposium and participation in several community events focused upon this issue. I also had the opportunity to join other leaders in action-oriented discussions about race, community-law enforcement relations, and violence-reduction strategies. As they always do, our youth and seniors brought me great delight during my visits with them over the past few months. But perhaps one of the most memorable highlights for me this season was the swearing-in and induction ceremony for my new position as District Attorney. This special event was shared with our incoming Solicitor-General, Donna Coleman-Stribling, who also took her oath of office that day. As I prepare to begin a new journey in public service, I leave you in Ms. Coleman-Stribling's capable hands. I look forward to working with her in our joint commitment to serving the citizens of DeKalb County with honor, integrity, and enthusiasm.
As I close, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all of you for your support and encouragement throughout the years. I could not have done this job without my phenomenal Solicitor-General family, led by my extraordinary executive team, Jenni Stolarski and Alan Traylor.
This is not 'goodbye,' but, 'see you soon.' Stay tuned for exciting news and information from the Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney.
Sincerely yours,
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| DeKalb County Solicitor-General |
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Passing the Torch to New SG Donna Coleman-Stribling
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Receiving the 'Female on the Move' Award from
Fresh Start for Women, Inc.
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"Human Trafficking and the Courts" Panelist
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Supporting WRC's Candlelight Vigil
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Spotlight on Domestic Violence
In October, dozens of citizens, law enforcement representatives, advocacy groups, and survivors joined forces for Solicitor-General Boston's sixth annual domestic violence and resource fair: Building Bridges, Making Connections, Coordinating a Community Response to Domestic Violence.
The program featured Kimya Motley, an award-winning educator, philanthropist, and domestic violence survivor.
In 2011, Motley and her then 10-year-old daughter were shot and wounded by her ex-husband. After surviving the attack, Motley later founded Haven of Light International, a non-profit organization designed to assist families with the rebuilding process following abuse.
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DeKalb County Police Department, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department, The Women's Resource Center to End Domestic Violence, Raksha, The International Women's House, DeKalb Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, GAIN, and the Latin American Association were among the many program partners and participants.
Roderick Cunningham of the Beverly Cunningham Outreach Program and Asher Burk of the Women's Resource Center to End Domestic Violence moderated the symposium which coincided with
National Domestic Violence Awareness month.
The event was sponsored by Vanlanduyt Giles, LLC, The Panitch Law Group, and The Law Office of Rachel St. Fleur.
The program was live-streamed on the Solicitor-General's social media platforms and on DeKalb County television. Stay tuned to DCTV Channel 23 for repeat broadcasts of the symposium and other exciting programming.
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Quick Links
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New 'DAy' for DeKalb
Flanked by scores of family, friends and well-wishers, DeKalb County District Attorney-Elect Sherry Boston and Solicitor-General-Elect Donna Coleman-Stribling took their oaths of office during a joint swearing-in and induction ceremony on December 19th at St. Philip AME Church in Atlanta.
District Attorney-Elect Boston and Solicitor-General-Elect Coleman-Stribling secured their victories during the November 8th General Election after defeating their respective opponents in the May Primary. Boston has served as the DeKalb County Solicitor-General since 2011. During her tenure, Ms. Boston was instrumental in the development of DeKalb County's new Traffic Division and also implemented a wide variety of innovative programming and strategies for community outreach and crime prevention.
Prior to her election, Solicitor-General-Elect Coleman-Stribling served as Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit in the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office. In this role, Coleman-Stribling managed the prosecution of child sexual and physical abuse crimes. She also implemented abuse investigation protocol and served as a liaison for local law enforcement agencies.
Following a moving introduction by Dr. Thomas Coleman, Ms. Coleman-Stribling's father, Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham administered the oath of office for the incoming Solicitor-General. The Honorable Herbert Phipps, retired Presiding Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals, administered the oath of office for District Attorney-Elect Sherry Boston after a heartfelt introduction by former DeKalb County District Attorney Robert "Bob" Wilson.
Boston and Coleman-Stribling assume office on January 1, 2017. Each will serve a four-year term.
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Criminal Justice Collaborations
In September, Solicitor-General Boston spoke before the Dunwoody City Council to share her vision for DeKalb County and discuss opportunities for successful prosecution partnerships.
Ms. Boston also participated in an intimate conversation about race and community-law enforcement relations with a group of elected and community leaders from Metro Atlanta. The discussion was led by U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia,
John Horn, and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates at the Center for Civil Rights museum in October.
Solicitor-General Boston and other DeKalb delegates joined U.S. Attorney Horn in Arizona for a broader discussion on violence-reduction. The two-day conference featured a collaboration of national criminal justice leaders united in their desire to craft strategies for safer streets in their respective communities.
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Case Spotlight
State vs. Wingate and Wingate
An animal cruelty case involving dozens of cats has been resolved thanks in part to the efforts of a 'Good Samaritan' organization. On June 8, 2016,
71-year-old Alexandra Ann Marie Wingate and her daughter Sharyn Ann Wingate, 42, entered guilty pleas to 90 counts of Cruelty to Animals after subjecting nearly eight dozen cats to unsanitary conditions in their Dunwoody home.
The defendants were arrested in April after a joint investigation by the Office of the DeKalb County Solicitor-General and the DeKalb County Police Department revealed the mother-daughter duo were in possession of cats, a violation of their probation for a previous animal cruelty case.
The pair also pled guilty to charges of Operating an Animal Shelter without a License and Keeping a Disorderly House.
FurKids, Incorporated, an animal rescue shelter, housed, fed and nursed approximately 60 of the cats connected with the Wingates' case.
Following the Wingates' guilty plea, the Court imposed a sentence of 48 months of probation with 90 days in custody. According to the terms of their plea agreement, the Wingates must submit to mental health treatment, perform community service, and possess no animals.
The defendants were also ordered to pay restitution in the amount $10,000.00 to FurKids, Inc. That restitution was paid in full in November 2016, bringing the case to a successful close.
Inspiring Youth, Honoring Seniors
Not only was the month of October highlighted by domestic violence awareness and prevention programs, there were a variety of special events
involving DeKalb County youth as well. During Georgia Pre-K week, Solicitor-General Boston was invited to read to students at Clarian Place Childcare and Pre-K Center in an effort to promote an interest in reading and knowledge at an early age.
That event was followed by a thoughtful discussion about the importance of voting during a legislative forum moderated by student members of the Stone Mountain Chapter of the Jack and Jill of America organization.
Meanwhile, Solicitor-General Boston kicked off the month of November with a presentation to fourth graders at Charles Drew Charter School
about fairness, equality, and access to the law.
In an on-going commitment to engage with the senior community, the Solicitor-General's Community Prosecution team participated in the Senior Connections/Kaiser Permanente Senior Resource Fair at the Porter Sanford Community Center in Decatur. It was an opportunity to interact with DeKalb's seniors and share valuable information about elder abuse and personal safety.
Solicitor-General Boston took that message to the streets after partnering with Senior Connections to package and hand-deliver Meals on Wheels door-to door to seniors.
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Sherry Boston: 'Power Mom'
Solicitor General Boston is one of several metro women featured as a 'Power Mom' in the latest edition of Red Tricycle's online magazine for her efforts to create a successful work-home balance! Cli
ck here to read more.
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