Brutal domestic violence cases concluded during Superior Court trial week

STAFF REPORT :::

The Spalding County District Attorney’s Office recently completed a trial week with the Superior Court Judge Christopher Edwards. This trial week was the first of three weeks before Edwards.

According to a press release issued by the office of District Attorney Ben Coker, Assistant District Attorneys Donna Gopaul and Kathryn Lenhard represented the state of Georgia in the case against Timothy Aaron Allen, which resulted in a three-day jury trial.

“The jury deliberated for a little over an hour before returning a verdict of guilty on all counts,” the release stated. “Allen was convicted of kidnapping, two counts of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and three counts of battery, family violence.”

Authorities say this case involved an incident that occurred March 6 and 7, 2017, in which Allen struck his then-girlfriend with his fists, strangled her, pointed a gun in her face, chased her as she ran from the house and pulled her back into the house by her neck.

The victim sustained multiple injuries as a result of this violent attack, prosecutors said.

“The victim bravely took the stand and testified about the incident over the course of several hours,” the press release stated.

Investigator Dexter McCune, of the Griffin Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, was the lead investigator in the case.

“The victim’s brave testimony, along with the work of the Griffin Police Department, and the excellent job of ADA Gopaul and ADA Lenhard, brought about a great verdict in this case,” Coker said. “Thank you to the Spalding County citizens who served on this jury. This victim survived a brutal attack, and now the defendant will face the consequences of his actions. Spalding County is safer due to the hard work and bravery of these parties. My offices will continue to work with law enforcement to fight fervently for the victims of domestic violence in our communities.”

Allen will later appear before Edwards for sentencing.

Other cases on the trial calendar resulted in guilty pleas.

Terry Anthony Sampson plead guilty to two counts of child molestation related to incidents involving two victims. Sampson received 20 years to serve on one count and 10 years to serve on the second count, for a total of 30 years to serve in prison. Sampson is 59-years-old. Griffin Police Department Sgt. Kelly McKinney was the lead investigator on the case.

Blake Wayne Wilson plead guilty to aggravated assault and terroristic threats for two separate domestic violence incidents that occurred Jan. 7, 2017, and May 7, 2017. Wilson received 20 years with the first 10 years to be served in prison, followed by 10 years on probation. Wilson plead guilty to threatening to kill the victims, a then-girlfriend and her daughter, with a butcher knife, placing a pillow over the victim’s face in an attempt to smother her and by striking her multiple times causing bruising. Multiple officers with the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office worked the cases.

Brian Ferrall plead guilty to one count of criminal damage to property in the second degree and was sentenced to 10 years with the first three years to be served in prison. Ferrall plead guilty to shattering the windows and a glass table in the home of the victim, a then-girlfriend, on May 31, 2017. Deputy Sara Wilson with the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office was the lead investigator on the case.

Curtis Johnson plead guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. He received to 20 years with the first five years to be served in prison. Johnson plead guilty to being a member of the Belle Street Gang, a subset of the Bloods criminal street gang.