Year in Review: criminal charges

Continuing the week with Year in Review, two high-profile murder cases made their way through the courts in 2017 but it will likely be 2018 before either goes to trial.

2017 began with the re-indictment of Marqkeela Lawain Hill of Douglasville in the 2016 Tomas Colbert murder, adding more charges.

And they also indicted a second individual in that case, identified as William Demetrius McElveen.

Both were indicted on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, along with the new charges, Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault.

In February, 2016 Hill allegedly shot Colbert at a Falls Road apartment.

Colbert died later at Greenville Memorial Hospital as a result of several gunshot wounds.

But in October of this year, attorneys for both Hill and McElveen challenged their indictments citing what they said were errors in how the Grand Jury had been selected in January.

So far, that case has not been heard.

Another murder case is also continued into 2018 without a trial date set.

In June, attorneys for Gary Lamar Patrick asked for a continuance in his murder case.

Patrick is accused of shooting and killing Robert Gary Hiott of Toccoa during an argument at a Patrick Lane residence on Feb. 21, 2016.

In January, a Stephens County grand jury indicted Patrick on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.

Other high-profile criminal cases in 2017 included a shocking decision by a Stephens County Superior Court jury in the case of an assault on Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley.

In November, 37-year old John Matthew Williams was cleared of Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer, Aggravated Battery, and Felony Obstruction of an Officer.

The incident happened in February 2016 at a home off Skyview Lane in Toccoa.

During the trial, the Sheriff testified he was sucker punched by Williams when he and deputy Rusty Fulbright responded to a 911 call regarding a possible kidnapping of a woman, identified as Rebecca Heaton.

The Sheriff said he had also received a call from the woman’s father asking for help believing his daughter was being held by Williams against her will.

Fearing for the welfare of Heaton’s baby, Shirley entered the home where he was hit in the head by Williams and knocked unconscious.

Shirley suffered severe injuries and was hospitalized.

Mountain Judicial Assistant District Attorney Rick Bridgeman told the jurors the issue was not whether Williams punched the Sheriff, but whether he was justified in doing so.

Williams’ attorney told the court her client was defending his girlfriend and child, whom he believed had been pushed to the ground by the Sheriff.

However, an investigation by agents with the GBI found no evidence Heaton or her son had been pushed or had been injured.

Photos of the Sheriff’s massive injuries were shown to the jury during testimony, but Jury Foreman Steve Floyd said later that wasn’t enough to convict Williams.

Floyd tells WNEG News the jury felt the prosecution did not present enough evidence to overcome reasonable doubt.

Sheriff Shirley said later that he respected the jury’s decision.

Shirley said what did not come out at trial was that Matthews is a career criminal with a long history of arrests in Stephens County, and he says he hopes Matthew will use his freedom to turn his life around.