Rabun County Twins Plead Guilty to Vehicular Homicide

In Rabun County, two brothers have pled guilty to vehicular homicide for their part in causing the death of a passenger in a car they repeatedly rammed.

Mountain Judicial Circuit Court Judge George Christian tells WNEG News twin brothers Jesse Reeves Smith, and James Cody Smith, both 23, of Lakemont, Georgia pleaded guilty Monday to homicide by motor vehicle.

Jesse Smith also pled guilty to an additional four counts of serious injury by motor vehicle.

Christian said the guilty pleas stem from a July 14, 2017 wreck that resulted in the death of Wayne Turpin and the serious bodily injuries to Kurtis Coates.

Three other passengers in that car were also injured.

It happened on East Wolfcreek Road in Rabun County.

The Smith brothers chased Turpin’s vehicle and repeatedly rammed it, causing it to overturn.

Superior Court Judge Russell W. Smith sentenced Jesse Smith to a total of 30 years with 9 of those to be served in the state prison system – the balance of 21 years to be served on probation.

James Smith was sentenced to a total of 12 years with 3 of those years to be served in the state prison system. He was also ordered to serve 9 years probation.