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Grand jury convenes Monday

Posted by
Walter Geiger
in Crime
Thursday, September 9. 2010
Comments (26)
A man charged with phoning in bomb threats to convenience stores throughout middle Georgia heads up the list of cases to be taken up by the Lamar County grand jury when it convenes September 13 at 9 a.m.

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#1 Anonymous on 09/09/10 at 09:25 PM
What would make Donna's case possibly be heard?
#1.1 Anonymous on 09/10/10 at 11:33 AM
Some evidence actually admissible in a court of law.
#1.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 09/10/10 at 01:15 PM
To make that decision, we pray that The Grand Jury will ask to review the case. They have that power, we can only hope that they choose a foreman/woman who will stand up to the courts and demand to review the case. Pick a gutsy foreperson, give Donna a chance at Justice.
#1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 09/10/10 at 06:22 PM
Why aren't you people getting this? With the sole exception of Joe Buice, every single government official who has ever looked at this case has said there is not enough evidence to indict, much less convict, anyone. NO ONE likes or condones the fact that this case has gone unsolved for so long, but this litany by you arm chair lawyers is really disgusting. Three separate DA's administrations, three separate sheriff's administrations, the GBI, and the Attorney General's Office have all said, and maintain to this day, that a conviction cannot be had with the evidence that currently exists. I'm confident Byron Smith, Tommy Floyd, and Richard Milam weren't the only attorneys in their offices that reviewed the evidence in the case, and they ALL came to the same conclusion. How many sheriff's and GBI investigators have been over this case over the decades? The only official who thinks there is a case to be made out there is (and I don't mean anything personal here, but) he's a retired game warden. Everyone wants to see Ms. Johnson's killer brought to justice, but the idea that members of a Grand Jury (or any of the boobs on this blog) are more qualified to make that decision than the government officials that have been involved with this case for years is preposterous. If Milam thought there was ANY reasonable chance that he could nail the person or people who committed this horrible crime, he would jump at the opportunity. Stop wasting your breath and let the justice system do it's job, however long that might take.
#1.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 09/11/10 at 10:05 AM
GRAND JURY!!!

They can investigate any official as well!
#1.1.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 09/12/10 at 01:17 PM
What? You would have the Grand Jury investigate everyone who's held any decision making authority in the DA's Office, Sheriff's Office, the GBI and the Attorney General's office since this crime happened? The idea that there is some state-wide, decades-spanning conspiracy to bury this case is just stupid. S-T-U-P-I-D! And you morons who keep going on about it take away from the memory of this poor girl who was murdered and stolen from her family. Additionally, if the DA's Office does ever get enough evidence to indict this case and try it, all of you jack-asses gossip-mongering the "facts" to death will make it harder for the DA to get a jury in this county that will ever convict the SOB who did it.
#1.1.1.1.2 Sheila Tolley on 09/13/10 at 04:45 PM
Forget it Milam. It AIN'T working for you anymore.
#1.2 Sheila Tolley on 09/10/10 at 12:48 PM
An open minded Grand Jury who is not intimidated by the local elected officials. Someone appointed as foreman with some nuts or guts. Someone who realizes that the public is only asking for an open review of the evidence. Someone who wants justice in a 26 year old BRUTAL murder case that has been tossed away like last week's left-overs. Someone who wants to solve this for Jimmy and Becky. I am sure they both want this case solved. Just ask them.
#2 NOT Shelia Tolley on 09/09/10 at 09:49 PM
I think the foreperson requesting a special grand jury to go over the evidence. The foreperson would need to tell the judge. I will have to research but thats my first thought.
#3 NOT Shelia Tolley on 09/09/10 at 10:20 PM
A grand jury foreperson can request the Ellerby case be presented as well.
#4 Grand Jury Handbook! on 09/09/10 at 10:46 PM
http://www.pacga.org/downloads/other_pubs/Updated_Grand_Jury_Handbooks_5thed/2010/generic_version.pdf

Optional Inspections or Investigations
Whenever deemed necessary by eight or more grand jurors, the grand jury shall appoint a committee of the
grand jury to inspect or investigate the following:
Any county office;
Any county building;
Any public authority of the county;
Any court or court official of the county;
The county board of education or county school superintendent; or
Any of the records, accounts, property, or operations of any of the entities described above.
When the grand jury conducts a civil investigation or inspection under the 1994 legislation, the district attorney
will advise you concerning the procedures which must be followed. During an authorized inspection or
investigation, the grand jury or the designated committee is authorized to examine books, records, and accounts,
to have witnesses subpoenaed, and hear evidence. Any oral testimony heard by the grand jury must be taken
under oath, as unsworn statements are not evidence.

The grand jury is authorized to appoint one citizen of the county to provide technical expertise during the
inspection or investigation. This technical expert receives the same compensation as grand jurors.
The following oath must be administered to witnesses who appear before the grand jury during a civil investigation
or inspection:
The grand jury is authorized to prepare and submit for publication reports or presentments based on its inspections
or investigations. (See p. 20).
#5 Anonymous on 09/10/10 at 06:47 AM
There is no "innocent until proven guilty" in some situations....so, w/ that said let's all hope that the pervert, a.k.a. Thomas Mark Smith, spends the rest of his natural life in prison. Oh, & that during his stay there he receives the appropriate punishment for what he did to the little girls he put his hands on...if there's any justice in this world, he'll get back everything he gave plus enough to make every sick, twisted pervert like him feel it too....& that's what I'm praying today - AMEN!
#5.1 Amen! on 09/10/10 at 08:44 AM
Yes! The rest of his NATURAL LIFE!
#5.2 Anonymous on 09/10/10 at 09:03 AM
he needs his pecker choped off
#5.3 rhoda dunn on 09/10/10 at 01:39 PM
hope he gets on the sex offenders list and that will make him live the rest of life in punishment and shame. i personally think he should be tied to tree standing in pasture of hungry calves with pants around his knees for a day or two. come and get it baby cows
#6 Anonymous on 09/10/10 at 12:04 PM
I always found it interesting that many of the same names show up time after time as a selected juror. This is a pool that should be in constant update by removing the deceased and adding those who are now of age to vote. I would like to know how this jury pool is managed and how selections are determined. This would make a great article for the BHG don’t you think?
#6.1 NOT Shelia Tolley on 09/10/10 at 12:20 PM
I agree! I was thinking about that. The grand jury can ask to inspect the process probably.
#6.2 anon on 09/10/10 at 12:56 PM
Do google search for Georgia Jury Commissioners handbook. Can't post link here...
#7 Sheila Tolley on 09/10/10 at 12:40 PM
Please Grand Jury, show your power. Insist that you have a chance to review Donna Johnson case. Don't be intimidated, as many would love for you to be. You are POWERFUL....BRING IT ON!! You are the power of the vote. Push it!
#8 Robert Whitted on 09/10/10 at 01:10 PM
I fail to see how The Donna Johnson Murder could not be a primary focus in the minds of this Grand Jury.
#9 rhoda dunn on 09/10/10 at 01:46 PM
if this case is not on the minds of grand jury, it sure is on most of the folks mind in 3 counties. some scared folks around and with right the way the gbi is digging and following leads from newspaper. WHATCHA GONNA DO WHEN THEY COME FOR YOU you murdering perverts!
#10 Moral turpitude? on 09/10/10 at 01:58 PM
Huff v. Anderson, 212 Ga. 32, 34 (2) (90 SE2d 329) (1955), applied the definition of moral turpitude found in Holloway v. Holloway, 126 Ga. 459, 460 (55 SE 191) (1906): " 'Turpitude in its ordinary sense involves the idea of inherent baseness or vileness, shameful wickedness, depravity. [Cit.] In its legal sense it includes everything done contrary to justice, honesty, modesty, or good morals. [Cits.] The word "moral," which so often precedes the word turpitude, does not seem to add anything to the meaning of the term, other than that emphasis which often results from a tautological expression. All crimes embraced within the Roman's conception of the crimen falsi involve turpitude; but it is not safe to declare that such crimes only involve turpitude.' ' "Moral turpitude" is an act of baseness, vileness, or depravity in the private and social duties which a man owes to his fellow man, or to society in general, contrary to the accepted and customary rule of right and duty between man and man.' [Cit.]" Huff at 34 (2).
#11 basheba on 09/10/10 at 02:31 PM
WOW!!!!!! Where is the pediphile from?? He really has the charges doesn't he. Hope he gets what he deserves.
#11.1 Anonymous on 09/14/10 at 03:10 PM
He's from Barnesville...known by everybody as Tommy. He has some family members that are really good people & it's sad that this is going to affect them in very negative ways & cause judgement to also fall on them. He's managed to mess up the lives of a lot of people that don't deserve it, especially the little girls who fell victim to his sickness. There's not a legal punishment suitable for people like him...they deserve something "special".
#12 NOT Shelia Tolley on 09/10/10 at 06:44 PM
ARREST IN DONNA JOHNSON CASE????
#13 H B on 09/11/10 at 11:28 AM
The Grand Jury can review the Donna Johnson case, and not give a no bill or true bill, but pass the information on to the next grand jury, and that will give law enforcement time to get additional evidence. Also, it will prevent the case from being billed, and fall into the laws scheme of handling a case such as this.
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