SUPERIOR COURT
Two defendants charged with drug trafficking were granted bonds in the amount of $80,000 and banned from the Ocmulgee Court Circuit in Jones County Superior Court.
Cedric Walter Whitehead and Michael Terreco Willis appeared with their attorneys in front of Superior Court Judge Stephen Bradley July 13 requesting bonds.
Willis was represented by defense attorney Lars Anderson, and District Attorney Wright Barksdale represented the state.
Willis was arrested Dec. 27, 2022, and charged with trafficking cocaine; illegal drugs marijuana or methamphetamine; marijuana purchase, felony possession, manufacture, distribution or sale; possession of a schedule IV drug with intent; possession of a schedule II narcotic and possession of a firearm or knife during commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies.
Anderson argued that his client was ready for trial May 23, but the state was not ready. He said the state was not willing to produce a confidential informant.
“I don’t think it’s fair that Mr. Willis stay in jail until the state is ready to reveal its informant,” the attorney said.
Barksdale said the state had a murder trial scheduled in August but understood a decision was going to have to be made. The DA consented to an $80,000 bond, and Anderson agreed.
Bradley said he would approve the bond on the condition that Willis would be banished from the Ocmulgee Circuit while on bond with the exception of court appearances.
A Facebook post by Jones County Sheriff Butch Reece announced Willis’ Dec. 27 arrest. The post stated that Willis was found to be in possession of a trafficking amount of cocaine, approximately four ounces of marijuana and more than 100 Xanax pills. He was also in possession of a firearm.
Jones County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Barron Hall stated in a Jan. 5 interview that the arrest was pursuant to an ongoing investigation. He said officers made contact with Willis in Jones County, and he was taken down by the drug unit with the assist of patrol.
The investigator said a search of the vehicle was performed due to the odor of marijuana that was present during the traffic stop. He added that the pistol was in view near the console of the vehicle.
Whitehead
The July 13 bond request was the second attempt for Whitehead since his Feb. 12 arrest. His charges include trafficking in ecstasy, possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana. He was also charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of drug-related objects.
He was represented by defense attorney Keri Foster Thompson. She argued that her client had been in jail since his arrest with no reason to believe his trial would be any time soon.
Thompson said the defendant was not a flight risk and had a job waiting for him upon his release.
Barksdale said Whitehead’s case was similar to Willis and consented to an $80,000 bond, which Bradley approved with the same conditions, including banishment from the Ocmulgee Circuit.
The defendant’s
first attempt at bond was April 6 in front of Superior Court Terry Massey who denied bond, citing his concern about the amount of ecstasy found in Whitehead’s possession and his risk to reoffend.
A report of the Feb. 12 arrest by Gray Police Department Officer Daniel Pointer states that he was running radar when he was alerted to a vehicle traveling 62 mph in a 45-mph zone.
The officer said he conducted a traffic stop and explained to the driver why he was stopped. Whitehead was the driver, and the officer said a check of his license revealed his license was suspended.
Pointer said the odor of marijuana was detected and he conducted a contraband search on the driver during which he found a baggy of marijuana in his jacket pocket.
Whitehead was taken into custody.
The officer said a search of the vehicle on the driver’s side located more marijuana in the console and a backpack was found in the passenger floorboard. Items found inside the backpack were a quantity of clear baggies, digital scale, marijuana, cocaine and a large bag of suspected MDMA/ Ecstasy pills of various colors.
Pointer said a further search of the vehicle found a loaded Smith and Wesson handgun under the passenger’s seat. Whitehead was transported to the Jones County Law Enforcement Center and warrants secured for his arrest.
Warrants were later issued for a passenger in the car, Denika Stanley, following Pointer’s further investigation into the case.
