A Dry Branch man pled guilty to charges of forgery and giving a false name to law enforcement after his bond was denied last week in Jones County Superior Court.

Shabantu Okunji Webb pled guilty Dec. 17 to forgery in the first degree and giving a false name to law enforcement officers. The defendant received 10 years for the forgery and 12 months for giving a false name. The sentences are to run concurrent for a total of 10 years and may be served on probation.

Asistant District Attorney Gregory Bushway said Shabantu Webb was driving a vehicle April 15, 2008, when it was stopped by Jones County Deputy Paul Hathaway. Bushway said Webb gave the deputy a false name, and as a result, a bench warrant for him was issued in that false name.

Hathaway’s report of the traffic stop stated that he received an anonymous tip that a subject was coming to Jones County to purchase drugs and would be in a maroon truck with a damaged rear bumper. The deputy watched for the vehicle and saw a truck matching the description traveling south on Highway 49.

Hathaway followed the truck into Bibb County and stopped it. The passenger, William Newby Jr., who was the owner of the vehicle, was arrested for possession after the deputy found illegal drugs in a hidden compartment in the truck’s console.

Webb gave the deputy the name of Rahim Abdul Sharif and was issued a citation for driving on an expired license, which he signed.

The prosecutor said, according to his record, Webb has given a false name to law enforcement three times. He said using the wrong name takes up the officers’ time and soon adds up.

“This is not the first time, and now he wants you to give him a bond,” the prosecutor said to Superior Court Judge Hugh Wingfield.

Public Defender Sean Brodie asked the judge for a reasonable bond and noted that Webb was found at his residence. The attorney also suggested the case could include venue issues because deputies followed Webb into Bibb County before he was arrested.

Wingfield said Webb is a man with a history of giving other names.

“My concern is will he show up when he needs to,” the judge said and then spoke to the defendant. “I think if I give you a bond, we won’t see you again. We can’t have the sheriff’s department looking all over Georgia for people who don’t exist. You have given up your right to a bond.”

Assistant District Attorney Keagan Goodrich, said once the court denied his bond, Webb decided it was better to plead guilty and be monitored at home rather than to be monitored in the jail.