This is a press release from the Ogeechee Circuit District Attorney’s Office.
Kenta Cook, 48, has been sentenced to a maximum sentence of 50 years to serve after pleading guilty in the Superior Court of Bulloch County to first-degree burglary, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was imposed by Ogeechee Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Matthew K. Hube and announced by District Attorney Catherine A. Sumner.
The State, represented by Assistant District Attorney Donna C. Black, presented evidence showing that on November 10, 2014, the defendant unlawfully entered the Statesboro home of Freddie Brinson with the intent to commit a burglary. When Mr. Brinson returned home for lunch and opened the exterior door, he discovered the defendant inside. As Mr. Brinson turned to retreat, he was shot in the back by the defendant. Fortunately, the firearm failed to cycle, preventing further shots. The defendant continued to burglarize the home before leaving Mr. Brinson on the floor and fleeing the scene. Mr. Brinson’s physical description of the offender, combined with DNA evidence from the firearm and clothing, identified Kenta Cook as the assailant. This identification was further supported by the defendant’s palm print found on the exterior door of the Brinson home. At the time of the offense, Cook was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing a firearm.
During the sentencing hearing, Mr. Brinson, his wife, and two of his children delivered powerful victim impact statements detailing the toll the violent offense has taken on their family, friends, and their community. Concluding his statement, Mr. Brinson spoke directly to the defendant, sharing that he has prayed unceasingly for him since the incident.
The defendant has been in continuous confinement since 2014 serving a separate federal prison sentence. He was transferred from federal custody in New York to Bulloch County on October 6, 2026, to answer for the charges in this indictment. Upon completing his federal sentence, he will be transferred to the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections to begin serving this sentence.
In a written statement, the District Attorney’s Office noted: “Home is more than a place where we drop our bags upon entering. It is a place where we should be able to drop our worries—a sanctuary and a refuge. On November 10, 2014, Kenta Cook shattered the peace and safety the Brinson family found in their home. Today, he was brought to justice for those heinous crimes. We express our sincerest sympathies to Mr. Freddie Brinson, his family, and his loved ones for the horrific acts endured at the hands of this defendant, as well as our deepest gratitude for their grace and courage in standing before their invader. We also commend the Statesboro Police Department and Detective Keith Holloway for their diligent and resolute efforts in securing this conviction.”
