"I can't even think right now, I'm just happy that it's over. It's been a long hard road and justice has been served."
The widow of a Warner Robins store owner who was killed in an attempted armed robbery speaks out about the guilty verdict handed down by a jury today.
Good evening.
Thanks for joining us.
I'm Frank Malloy.
And I'm Leah Johnson.
A Houston County jury found18 year old Jermontae Moss guilty of all ten counts of murder for Jose Marin in September of 2011.
Moss was charged with killing 43-year old Jose Marin during an attempted robbery. Marin owned the mexican food store in Warner Robins where it happened.
This week... a witness testified that Moss was the shooter.
But during closing arguments today... Moss' attorney said the sweat pants that he was wearing during his arrest did not match the witness's description of the killer.
In the end... A jury handed down a guilty verdict on all 10 counts against Moss.
After the trial, we spoke with Houston County District Attorney George Hartwig and the victim's widow.
"I'm just glad that the trial is over. I've been living in pure hell for a year, over a year now and I'm just glad that he's been found guilty.
I certainly hope that this verdict and the fact that this man was found guilty on all counts will bring some closure to Mr. Marin's family and also reassure business owners in Warner Robins and Houston County that when these types of crimes or acts of crimes are committed at their businesses and lives are lost, that we are actively going to prosecute those types of crimes."
Jermontae Moss will be sentenced tomorrow at ten a.m.
------------------------------------------------------------
A man charged with the murder of Macon woman....put up fight when it came time for his first court appearance..
A group of deputies had to drag 31-year-old Aurie Bonner the third into the courtroom today..
Bonner is charged with the murder of 87-year-old Christine Patton Cook.
Cook was found in her on General Lee Drive in Macon...According to the autopsy, she was smothered.
Once deputies got Bonner in front of Magistrate Judge Barbara Harris..she tried to calm him down and then explained the charge of felony malice murder..
Bonner indicated he understood the charges and waived his right to a commitment hearing.
The judged told Bonner she could not set bond in the case..
------------------------------------------------------------------
Macon police say a woman already facing fraud charges led officers on a chase that ended when she crashed into a pole.
According to a news release... 31-year-old Yolanda King faces several charges... including driving under the influence of drugs.
The chase started around 12-30 this afternoon near the corner of Broadway and Oglethorpe Street.
An officer attempted to stop the car after he noticed the people inside weren't wearing seat belts.
The officer also recognized King as being wanted for threatening a witness.
When the officer turned on his lights... the driver stopped and ran away from the car.
That's when investigators say King got into the driver's seat and drove off.
She ran into a pole at Third and Edgewood and then tried to run away.
Viewer Joseph Graham snapped this photo after
The officer caught up with King.
King was taken to the Medical Center of Central Georgia for treatment.
King is also charged with not wearing a seat belt and for "eluding" arrest.
In June, she was among five people charged with money laundering, check forgery and tax fraud.
----------------------------------------------------
An update to story we've been following on Eyewitness News - The current owner of Progressive Christian Academy is back in Florida facing violation of probation.
Florida Correction officials tell us Hawkins, also known as Christine Perera, returned to that state yesterday after her travel privileges were revoked .
The Department of Correction says she did not respond truthfully to her probation officer when asked what she was doing in Georgia ...
Hawkins was convicted on check fraud and grant theft charges before coming to Macon to work at the school.
School parents have complained that the school is apparently being run by a person with a criminal record...and a state agency is investigating the academy...but won't say why.
---------------------------------------------------------------
After nearly a year of work, web developers and an urban designer are putting the finishing touches on tools they've created specifically for Macon.
Jessica Lord, Nick Doiron and Zack Williams were the Macon team in this year's Code for America program. Their goal was to create web based tools that make it easier for people to interact with their government.
The team says they knocked out about 6 projects for Macon, but the main ones are a web site for people to keep track of the SPLOST.
Another tool they've designed monitors what the Code enforcement department is working on down to a specific street or address.
"Blight is a huge problem in the city of Macon. It's being fought in the city of Macon and several neighborhood groups are working to change how that is and the city is doing that as well so we wanted to show that. You can look up what's going on in your neighborhood."
"If you've felt like you didn't think the government was spending the money that you thought they should be or if they were spending it in the right places you can absolutely see exactly where all the money is going and hopefully it makes residents feel better that the government is doing what they said they would do with the money."
The SPLOST website is almost done-- the information is being transferred to the city and Lord says it should be available to the public next week.
The other site-- HomeStatus-dot-ORG-- is also available for public use.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Today, a group of Lake Joy Elementary students learned the benefits of getting lost in a good book.
[Notes:FRANK]
{***FRANK***}
[ReadRate:16]
And...also why literacy is important to us.
Our Lorra Lynch Jones was there to read "The Giving Tree" and "Interrupting Chicken."
"The Giving Tree" taught them a lesson on how to help others unselfishly.
The fourth and fifth graders also had the chance to ask questions and learn about how we operate here in the studio.
They say they enjoyed the books... and realize how important it is to keep a good variety on hand.
"Sometimes you just like to read picture books because you normally read chapter books in fifth grade and you don't really get to read those a lot."
This Saturday... we'll have all kinds of books for children like Lauren for our Make A Difference Day.
You can make a difference until Friday by dropping off books for our book drive at locations across central Georgia.
You can check 13WMAZ dot com for one close to you.
--------------------------------------------------------
Last week, Democratic U.S. Representative John Barrow talked to us about the issues in his quest for re-election to Georgia's 12th District congressional seat.
This week.... his Republican opponent, Lee Anderson of Grovetown, talked with Randall Savage about the issues he considers important in the race. We interviewed the two men separately...because Anderson declined to take part in a debate with Barrow.
Anderson said the most important issues include balancing the federal budget, same sex marriage, abortion, health care, gun rights and Barrow's campaign ads.
Anderson, who's a farmer, calls himself an every day guy who's accessible and can relate to the problems facing people in tough economic times.
Georgia's 12th congressional district covers 19-counties in east Georgia, including Laurens, Wheeler and Treutlen counties.
Barrow is seeking his fifth, two-year term in the House of Representatives.
Anderson currently serves as a Georgia state representative.
In Columbia County, he previously served on the county Commission and the board of education.
-----------------------------------------------------
Break out your Daisy Dukes.
7 members of the original Dukes of Hazard cast are scheduled to appear at the Middle Georgia Raceway March 8th, 9th and 10th.
Organizer Chris Jennings expects the Dukes of Hazard Georgia Reunion to attract more than 50-thousand people.
It will offer a car show and several musical acts... Including David Allen Coe and Confederate Railroad.
Jennings says profits will benefit several local charities.
The group plans a press conference for tomorrow... To release more details on the event.