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Marc K. Anderson
One of four inmates who escaped from the Bibb County Detention Center in October of last year was a Jones County probationer who was back in Jones County Superior Court last week to face his probation violation charges.
Marc Kerry Anderson was sentenced March 7 to the maximum for each of the crimes he was charged with in Jones County. He was sentenced to three years for possession of a schedule I controlled substance, 10 years for theft by receiving stolen property and five years for forgery in second degree. Superior Court Judge Alison Burleson ordered the counts to run consecutively for a total of 18 years to serve in prison. District Attorney Wright Barksdale represented the state in the proceeding, and Anderson was represented by defense attorney John Carter. Anderson’s original Jones County sentence took place Sept. 24, 2018, as the result of a traffic stop that took place Dec. 4, 2017. The traffic stop was made by Jones County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Barron Hall, who was a deputy on patrol at the time.
Barksdale gave the court an overview of Anderson’s crimes during the March 7 court proceeding. He said the end date of the 2018 sentence was Sept. 23, 2028.
The prosecutor said Anderson was convicted of a hit and run Feb. 2, 2021, in Bibb County and escaped from incarceration there Oct. 16, 2023.
A report of the escape by Bibb County Sheriff David J. Davis said the four inmates fled from the detention center through a damaged day room window and a cut fence. A Dodge Challenger pulled up at the location at 3 a.m. that morning and helped the inmates flee.
The escapees were Joey Fournier, who was charged with murder; Anderson, who was charged with aggravated assault; Johnifer Dernard Barnwell, who was being detained for the U.S. Marshals; and Chavis Demaryo Stokes, who was charged with possession of a firearm and drug trafficking.
Anderson was the second of the escapees to be captured. He was taken into custody Nov. 3, 2023, at Huntley Apartments in Atlanta by a combination of law enforcement units.
Carter spoke to the court on his client’s behalf March 7. He said Anderson admitted the probation violations but wanted to argue the sentencing. The attorney agreed that Anderson was not a good probationer.
Carter said his client wanted the court to know he did not plan the escape.
“Conditions in the Bibb County jail were not good; they were deplorable. He woke up with a rat chewing on his foot,” the attorney said.
Carter went on to say that Anderson woke up and heard chiseling out of the window.
“He saw an opportunity and took it. He doesn’t dispute that he escaped. He is just asking not to receive the maximum sentence.”
Barksdale said all the ways Anderson violated his probation had already been outlined from the smallest to the biggest.
“The escape put Middle Georgia on edge. He was found in a luxury apartment in Atlanta. He was part of the greater plan,” the prosecutor said.
He said everyone remembers the escape, and that behavior should not be tolerated or rewarded.
“This is not Bibb County or Macon. We want our kids to be safe on the playground and our wives and parents safe at the grocery store,” Barksdale stated. “I ask you to revoke his sentence in full to prison.”
Burleson confirmed the maximum sentence for each charge with the attorneys.
“I could not agree with the state more. I have no doubt about the conditions in jail, but what you chose to do was unacceptable,” the judge said.
Burleson said the sentence would be straight time with no probation, but Anderson would receive credit for the time he had served.
In conclusion, Burleson spoke to Anderson.
“You are a terrible candidate for probation, and I advise you against escape,” she said.
