SUPERIOR COURT
A Milledgeville man avoided a Jones County drug charge but faces multiple drug charges in federal court that could send him to prison for a long time.
Jarvis Vontrell Havior, 30, was in Jones County Superior Court Oct. 27 to begin his trial on charges of Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act (possession of a schedule II non-narcotic controlled substance), possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and speeding.
The defendant was arrested Feb. 4, 2021, and indicted on the charges June 22, 2021.
The jury for the Oct. 27 trial was one of three picked Oct. 24. With the jury waiting to enter the courtroom, the court was informed that Havior would be entering a plea.
However, before Havior’s plea was taken, Assistant District Attorney Cara Fiore explained that Chiquita Sims contacted her office the previous day to take responsibility for the drugs that were found in Havior’s vehicle when he was arrested.
Sims, represented by Attorney John Newberry, waived indictment, and entered a guilty plea to possession of methamphetamine. Sims received three years probation as part of the negotiated plea.
Newberry said Sims told prosecutors Havior gave her a ride to her aunt’s house that day. Sims, who admitted to being an addict, said she left her jacket in the car, which had the methamphetamine found in the traffic stop, in the pocket.
“She did not want someone else charged with a crime that was hers,” the defense attorney said.
As a result of Sims’ plea, the charges against Havior were dismissed, with the exception of the reason for the traffic stop, speeding.
The defendant entered a guilty plea to the traffic charge and received 12 months probation.
According to a Feb. 9 press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Middle District of Georgia, Havior is one of 22 defendants in a 17-count federal indictment.
The release states Havior, aka J Bo, is charged with one count conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, six counts distribution of methamphetamine, two counts possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of cocaine or cocaine base with intent to distribute, two counts possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count maintaining a drug-involved premises.
The federal charges are the result of an ongoing methamphetamine trafficking investigation in Milledgeville with ties to Metro Atlanta. The Jones County Sheriff’s Office is listed as one of more than a dozen local and federal agencies assisting with the investigation of the case.
The release also states the federal charges Havior is facing carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The initial appearance for the 22 defendants took place Feb. 9-10, and Havior’s trial in federal court is scheduled March 13, 2023.
