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Court upholds murder conviction in toddler's death

Submitted by Associated Press
Monday, January 23rd, 2012, 12:22pm
Court upholds murder conviction in toddler's death

ATLANTA -- Georgia's top court has unanimously upheld the murder convictions and life prison sentences given to a Coweta County couple for strangling and beating to death the woman's young daughter.

The Georgia Supreme Court's decision on Monday involved the December 2008 death of Makayla Mack, who was two-and-a-half when she was taken to the hospital.

An autopsy revealed she had hair loss, bruises and other signs of abuse, and Coweta County prosecutors charged Thomasina Mack and DeMario Steven Smith with her death.

The two were tried jointly in April 2010; the jury found them guilty of murder and cruelty to children, sentencing them both to life in prison.

Both appealed, but the Georgia Supreme Court's opinion found the evidence was sufficient to find them "guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

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Reward offered in teen's death

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer
Thursday, December 29th, 2011, 12:19pm
Reward offered in teen's death

NEWNAN, Ga. -- Newnan Police are offering a $20,000 reward for information in the death of a teenager whose body was found last week.

Blake Chappell's partially clothed body was found in a creek near Summergrove Parkway on Dec. 19, more than two months after he was reported missing. An autopsy determined the 17-year-old Senoia resident died of a gunshot wound.

Investigators are currently looking for information that will lead to an arrest in Chappell's death.

Anyone who can help with this case is asked to call the Newnan Police Department tip line at 770-254-2350.

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Luthersville man facing federal fraud charges

Submitted by Associated Press
Thursday, November 10th, 2011, 3:49pm
Luthersville man facing federal fraud charges

LUTHERSVILLE, Ga. -- A 62-year-old Luthersville man has been indicted on fraud charges involving federal contracts reserved for service-disabled veterans.

Arthur Wayne Singleton was arraigned in federal court on Wednesday. Prosecutors said he obtained the contracts under false pretenses.

U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said Singleton approached a bedridden Vietnam War veteran and proposed a joint venture that would use the veteran's status as disabled to obtain federal contracts set aside for companies with majority ownership by disabled veterans.

The indictment said Singleton obtained $2.85 million worth of contracts using the veteran's status, although the veteran performed no work and did not have ownership stake in Singleton's companies.

Singleton has been charged with 14 counts of wire fraud and one count of major fraud against the United States.

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Man transporting meth lab gets busted at PTC Wal-Mart

Submitted by Eden Godbee, Where U Live Producer
Thursday, August 4th, 2011, 4:42pm
Man transporting meth lab gets busted at PTC Wal-Mart

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. – Peachtree City Police have arrested Steve McLeroy of Newnan for manufacturing methamphetamines, possession of marijuana, obstructing officers and reckless conduct.

Authorities responded to the Wal-Mart on 2717 West Highway 54 on Tuesday after they got a report of a suspect wearing a backpack and acting suspiciously inside the location.

Police met with the suspect, searched his backpack and found “ a small amount of marijuana and a home-made portable device used to manufacture methamphetamines”.

McLeroy was apprehended at the scene and is being held in the Fayette County Jail; he is awaiting bond.

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Feds crack down on prescription drug trafficking

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer
Friday, May 13th, 2011, 2:42pm
Feds crack down on prescription drug trafficking

ATLANTA -- A federal grand jury in Atlanta has charged a total of 13 defendants from two states with illegally trafficking in oxycodone and other prescription drugs.

The two cases arise out of intensified efforts to address Georgia's growing problem with prescription drug abuse.

"Prescription drug abuse is our nation's fastest-growing segment of illegal drug use, causing significantly more overdose deaths than cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin combined," said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.

In the first incident, 11 Georgia residents were charged with conspiring to forge oxycodone prescriptions and sell the illegally obtained tablets.

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Drug tip results in three arrests at motel

Submitted by Eden Godbee, Where U Live Producer
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011, 2:26pm
Drug tip results in three arrests at motel

NEWNAN, Ga. – Earlier today, the Coweta County Sherriff’s Office received a tip from an informant that drugs were being dealt from a room in the Super 8 Motel on U.S. 29. Three people have been arrested on drug charges after Coweta authorities caught them in the act.

For the full Times-Herald story, click here.  

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Illegal aliens arrested in Newnan 'shot house,' fraudulent tax return operation

Submitted by Eden Godbee, Where U Live Producer
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011, 2:32pm

NEWNAN – Earlier this week, five people were arrested for operating a “shot house”, that house the illegal sale of alcohol and a fraudulent tax return operation. Maria Garcia-Torres, 39; Mario Giron, 22; and Vincente Yoval-Martinez, 39, were all arrested for disorderly house and Benito Villanueva, 58; and Sara Martinez Aguilar, 49, were charged with sale of alcohol without a license.

According to Coweta County authorities the people are believed to be undocumented, illegal aliens. The authorities were tipped off about this house while investigating a separate incident, involving a fatal shooting earlier that day.

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