A Bulloch County man pleaded guilty in court last week on charges stemming from a 2022 incident, but his most serious charge was dismissed.
The case involves a defendant named Aviel Israel Jones, who was facing a sentence of up to life in prison if convicted, and details a messy path to adjudication. Jones’ story includes two indictments, enhanced charges from the district attorney’s office, one prosecutor’s objection to a bench trial, and an ultimate resolution on the very charges with which the case began.
Case Timeline
June 19, 2022 – Officers with the Statesboro Police Department arrest Jones on charges of Aggravated Assault and Possession of Marijuana <1oz. The warrants state that Jones choked the named victim ‘with intent to murder, rape, rob’ to the point that she could not breathe and lost consciousness.
July 26, 2022 – Judge Michael Muldrew hears a motion for bond for Jones. He denies bond, but states bond will be reconsidered if Jones’ parole hold is removed.
August 2, 2022 – A Bulloch County grand jury indicts Jones on charges of Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault (family violence) and Possession of Marijuana < 1 oz.
- Kidnapping – held the named victim against her will on June 19, 2022
- Aggravated Assault – placed his arm around the named victim’s neck and applied pressure during the June 2022 incident.
- Possession of Marijuana <1 oz
August 3, 2022 – The named victim files a sworn affidavit with the Bulloch County Clerk of Court. The document is titled ‘Request for Non-prosecution’ and is notarized. In the affidavit, the woman states she had been drinking most of the day and was intoxicated at the time of the incident. She said Jones had asked her to leave his property and she became even more upset. “He was only trying to settle me down after I started to get loud and aggressive with my words. Which is why he put his arm around me.” She went on to state that she was coached by another party about what to say to the police and she was ‘sick and overwhelmed with emotions’ but ‘not in the right state of mind to think for [herself] that night.’ She wrote that she lost consciousness because of how much she’d had to drink.
“I was also scared I would be the one getting in trouble that night because Aviel never had any intentions of hurting me in any way. Aviel just wanted me to calm down or leave for the night. I am very sorry that all of this happened, but most of what was said at his [bond] hearing was incorrect.”
“Aviel did not deserve to be arrested that night and he never had any ill intent towards me. I wish I had let that be known when the officer arrived.”
September 12, 2022 – A Bulloch County grand jury returns a True Bill of Indictment on charges of Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault (Family Violence), Possession of Marijuana <1 oz, and Influencing a Witness.
The first three charges are the same as the previous indictment. The Influencing a Witness charge alleges that on August 3, 2022, (the date of the affidavit) Jones attempted to deter the named victim from testifying freely, fully, and truthfully by offering furniture and money.
September 23, 2022 – The first indictment is dismissed by prosecutors due to the second indictment.
December 12, 2022 – Jones is now in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections. His father writes the court and explains that he had two strokes while at Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison in Jackson. He asks the court to allow him to serve his time in the Bulloch County Jail.
No action on case and Jones remains in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections for the duration.
August 28, 2024 – Defense attorneys Mickey Kicklighter and Michael Classens file a Renewed Motion for Bond because Jones is set to be released from custody on the parole revocation. In an effort to give credibility to the affidavit, defense attorneys attach the affidavit from the named victim and state the notarized document is included “to demonstrate that no special “family violence” conditions are necessary in this case.”
September 18, 2024 – ADA Candace DeLoach files a Notice of Prosecutions Intent to Present Evidence of Other Crimes, Wrongs, or Acts. The Notice includes the 2010 indictment in which Jones and four others were charged with:
- Criminal Attempt to Commit Feticide
- Aggravated Assault (x2)
- Burglary
- False Imprisonment
- Possession of a Firearm or Knife During Commission of Certain Crimes
- Following the conviction by a jury at trial, Judge John Turner sentenced Jones to 15 years in prison followed by 10 years on probation.
September 23, 2024 – ADA Candace DeLoach filed a Notice of State’s Intent to Seek Recidivist Punishment, citing Jones’ 2011 Screven County conviction.
September 24, 2024 – Jones’ files a Jury Trial Waiver and requests a bench trial before Judge Lovett Bennett, Jr. Then-Chief ADA Barclay Black objects to the defense waiver of a jury trial.
September 26, 2024 – After hearing arguments from both parties, Judge Bennett overrules the state’s objection to a bench trial. The same day, Black files a Certificate of Immediate Review, seeking intervention by the Georgia Court of Appeals. This pauses the case at the county level.
December 18, 2024 – Jones maxes out from the Georgia Department of Corrections and returns to the Bulloch County Jail since bond in his pending case had been denied.
January 2025 – Newly-elected District Attorney Robert Busbee is sworn into office. The Jones case is among those in which the office is conflicted out due to Busbee’s previous work as a defense attorney. He requests that the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia appoint an ADA pro tem to handle the case.
February 7, 2025 – PAC appoints Matthew Bridges to serve as the ADA Pro Tem. He files an Entry of Appearance and takes over the case.
March 13, 2025 – Black’s request for intervention by the Georgia Court of Appeals was unsuccessful and Judge Bennett schedules a Bench Trial for May 30, 2025.
May 14, 2025 – As part of a negotiated plea before Senior Judge William Woodrum, Jones enters an Alford Plea on the Aggravated Assault charge and the other three charges are nolle prossed (or dismissed).
He receives a sentence of 3 years to serve followed by twelve years probation with credit for time served dating back to June 19, 2022. He’s ordered to complete an Anger Management program and, as a condition of his probation, Jones must adhere to a curfew, avoid alcohol and drugs (as well as people and places associated with either), and pay a $55 fine.
What is an Alford Plea?
An Alford plea is a guilty plea in which a defendant maintains their innocence but admits that the prosecution’s evidence would likely result in a guilty verdict if brought to trial. Not all states allow Alford pleas, but Georgia does. In many cases, an Alford plea is entered in hopes of a lesser sentence. Defendants sometimes believe that they will receive a lighter sentence than if they are found guilty at trial and then sentenced, a concept better known as a ‘trial tax.’ (A penalty for asserting one’s right to a trial by a jury of their peers.)
