Douglas County District Attorney's Office

Laydee Justyce is excited about the tree lighting tonight in front of the Douglas County Courthouse at 6 PM! There will be music, dancing, treats, and a visit from Santa! Come out and join the fun this evening as we celebrate this holiday season!

Today students from Stewart Middle visited our office to learn about what we do and the criminal justice process. They heard from various members of our office and they also had the chance to participate in a mock trial.

Laydee Justyce helped us set out some of our office bracelets for the students prior to their arrival!

This morning, we hosted an appreciation breakfast to honor our community partners who have collaborated with our Pre-Trial Diversion Program. We want to express our gratitude to the following organizations: The Brookman Group, Surviving Transitions, Essendant, Recovery-Unlimited, Russell Craigwell Consulting, LLC, JAG Probation, My Right Path, and Clear Path Solutions. We appreciate all the support you have provided to our program and the participants throughout this year!

Today during our holiday breakfast we handed out the following awards:

Support Staff of the Year: O’livia Garrett
Victim Advocate of the Year: Cristin Olivo
Investigator of the Year: Nick O’Conor
ADA of the Year: Brook Demeke
Barry Wood Award: Laura Lukert

Congratulations to all of the recipients! We are thankful for all the work you do for our office and the community!

This morning we had a special guest stop by our office! Laydee Justyce has come down from the North Pole for the month of December to visit our office to learn more about the criminal justice system, our office, and our community! Stay tuned to hear about her adventures with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office!

Yesterday members of our office spoke to criminal justice classes at Alexander High School. We discussed the criminal justice process and the various roles members of our office have. Thank you Mr. Parham and Alexander High School for having us!

See post below from Douglas County Emergency Management for information on the warming center being opened tonight.

Santa’s mailbox is now open in front of the Douglasville Conference Center and is accepting letters until December 15th! More information can be found on City of Douglasville - Government’s post below.

🎶Christmastime is hereeeee....🎶 so you know what that means, Santa is on his way and he's ready for you to drop your letters!

Santa's mailbox, located in front of the Douglasville Conference Center, is OPEN and ready to receive letters until Friday, December 15th! Parents, to help Santa's elves, please scan the QR code on the sign next to the mailbox once you drop the physical letter and fill out the form at www.DouglasvilleGA.gov/LettersFromSanta 🎄 ✨

A reminder from the Douglasville Police Department on how to keep your vehicles and items safe from thieves this holiday season!

It's Black Friday and several of you will be going out to take advantage of some really good deals, but so will the thieves. The only difference is they will be taking from you instead of buying their own. Lock your car doors and if you purchase something, place it out of view. Do not leave purses👝, bookbags🎒, computers⌨️, or cell phones📱 in plain view. Help us help you by locking your vehicle and placing your items out of sight.

Our office, and the Douglas County Courthouse, will be closed on Thursday, November 23rd, and Friday, November 24th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will resume our normal business hours on Monday, November 27th.

Junior League of Douglas County is sponsoring a FREE Laundry Day for families in our community.

See their post below on how to sign up to participate in this free event.

FREE LAUNDRY DAY 🧺

Junior League of Douglas County is sponsoring a FREE Laundry Day for families in our community.

Please click the link below, to register - multiple days are provided.

https://m.signupgenius.com/ #!/showSignUp/30E0B4FABA623A5FD0-45440285-wash

This is a community event, so please feel free to share with anyone in the Douglas County community and surrounding areas.

A 32.5 oz container of washing detergent and dryer sheets will be provided to each participant registered.

• • •

Thank you JC Freedom House for inviting District Attorney Dalia Racine to be the keynote speaker at your Annual Reception and Awards this past Monday.

Today is National Seatbelt Day!
Wearing a seatbelt is a simple yet effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones while on the road. It only takes a few seconds to buckle your seatbelt, but it can make a difference in the event of an accident.

Today is Veterans Day! On this day, we honor all the men and women who have served our country. Their bravery and sacrifice does not go unnoticed. We would like to give a special shoutout to the veterans who are members of our office, and those related to members of our office. Your service to our country is an inspiration to us all.

To all veterans, thank you for your service! Happy Veterans Day!

In recognition of Veterans Day, our office and the Douglas County Courthouse will be closed on Friday, November 10th. We will resume our normal business hours on Monday, November 13th

Have you seen the courthouse this week? It is illuminated green until November 12th as a part of "Operation Green Light."

If you would like to participate in "Operation Green Light" by lighting up your home or business green, there will be a green light bulb giveaway tomorrow November 9th from 10 AM-2 PM at the courthouse while supplies last.

This year the Douglas County Veterans Day Parade will be held on Saturday, November 11th at 11 AM in Downtown Douglasville! Come out and support our local veterans!

Tomorrow is Election Day for the City of Douglasville - Government and the City of Villa Rica! The polls will be open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
If you do not know your polling place, you can visit https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/ to find your location.

Although rare, instances of voter intimidation have become a growing concern nationwide. Fortunately, there are laws in place to protect your right to vote. No one should feel intimidated while engaging in their civic duty at the polls.

We are out at Youth Fest today from 12 PM to 5 PM at the courthouse! There is a variety of resources here, the grill is fired up and cooking hamburgers and hotdogs, the Sheriff’s Office has their ice cream truck here, and the music is playing. Come out and join in on the fun!

Defendants Found Guilty of Murder in New Year’s Eve Shooting

On November 3, 2023, a Douglas County jury returned a verdict convicting Davion White and Jhabre Wilson of Malice murder, Felony murder, multiple Aggravated Assaults counts, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, and Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. Davion White was also convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a First Offender Probationer. Chief Superior Court Judge William “Beau” McClain presided over the trial. The prosecution was led by Senior Assistant District Attorney Brook Demeke and Assistant District Attorney Victoria Hicks. The Douglasville Police Department investigated the case with Andre Futch as the lead detective.

On December 31, 2021, the Douglasville Police Department was called out to a residence for shots fired. When they arrived at the location, they found over fifty people, mostly high school students, at the residence for a New Years Eve party. Upon entering the residence law enforcement found fifteen-year-old Landon Smith deceased from a gunshot wound to his head.

Law enforcement found multiple shell casings throughout the crime scene including 9 mm shell casings matching Jhabre Wilsons gun and a 7.62 cartridge fired from a Draco, by Davion White. An anonymous caller informed law enforcement that Davion White and Jhabre Wilson were involved in the shooting and that these individuals were affiliated with a gang. Witnesses on scene described two masked men walking through the party for over an hour looking for a rival gang while at times brandishing weapons. Another witness came forward to let them know they were in the vehicle with White and Wilson during the shooting. They detailed that Davion White was hanging out of the car window shooting towards the residence as they left. One of these bullets traveled through the house where the party was taking place and struck Landon Smith in the head. Jhabre Wilson was also seen shooting his weapon towards the crowd of students while driving away from the scene. An additional witness came forward and confirmed that Davion White’s girlfriend, Madison Boden, had brought him a Draco long rifle to the party that evening. Boden originally denied bringing any guns to the residence but later pled guilty to her involvement, including getting rid of the murder weapon, and testified against White and Wilson at trial. Testimony from gang experts, photos, and videos recovered from social media and cell phones, showed White, Wilson, and Boden brandishing fi****ms and making gang-related gestures which proved their gang involvement.

Through their investigation, law enforcement was able to obtain two separate videos from residences that had recorded the incident. These videos played a pivotal role in the case as they showed White and Wilson were the ones to initiate the gunfire that evening. Although they never found the rival gang members, they initiated a confrontation with guests at the party which led to the fatal shooting. Tragically, the victim, Landon Smith, was an innocent bystander and was caught in the gunfire.

Douglas County District Attorney Dalia Racine stated, “There is no other word to describe what has occurred in our community than tragic. Landon would have been a senior in high school this year. All of his hopes, dreams, and promise are gone based on the irrational and fatal decision by these defendants to enhance a worthless gang status. I don’t know when it was decided that the value of our children’s lives can be equated to street status. I don’t know when the family structure became so broken that some of our children have been left to be raised by the concept of uplifting and glorifying violence and systems that celebrate the death of children that look just like them. But we are here.” Racine stated, “It is our families and our communities that are left to suffer when our positive and healthy support systems have failed. Our mothers and fathers are left picking out burial plots instead of high school diplomas. I don’t have the answers, but I know that this has to stop. I also know that the only way it will is for us to come together as an entire community to find the solution so we can stop burying our children or sending them to prison for the rest of their lives.”

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

Yesterday members of our office attended the ribbon cutting for the new One Family Resource Center that is located at 5903 Stewart Parkway. We look forward to seeing all the great things this center will provide for the community!

Defendants Sentenced to Multiple Life Sentences for Murder

On November 1, 2023, a Douglas County jury returned a verdict convicting Daniel Gillstrap of the brutal murder of Stiles Stilley. Gillstrap’s co-defendant, Marshall Fleming, was previously tried and convicted for his role in the murder on September 1, 2023. The Honorable Deah Warren presided over the trials of both defendants.

Gillstrap and Fleming were both charged and convicted of the offenses of malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and theft by taking. The prosecution was led by Chief Assistant District Attorney Kevin McMurry and assisted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Tornear’e Wiggins and Assistant District Attorney Ansley House. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Andrew Hynninen was the lead investigator.

In early September 2022, the victim became acquainted with Marshall Fleming and Daniel Gillstrap. Fleming and Gillstrap promised to help the victim maintain his house, which had fallen into disrepair. The victim invited both men to move into the house. Gillstrap only stayed briefly but Fleming moved in and stayed until September 9th when the electric company turned off power to the home for non-payment. Gillstrap and Fleming became desperate for money.

On the evening of September 16, 2022, Gillstrap and Fleming planned to go to the victim’s home to steal his car. Fleming enlisted Elizabeth Allen, his recent love interest, to drive him and Gillstrap to the victim’s home. When Gillstrap, Fleming, and Allen arrived that evening to the victim’s home, the victim was not there. The house was dark.

Gillstrap and Fleming went into the home with a key they obtained when previously staying at the victim’s home while Allen waited in the car. Fleming phoned the victim and lured him back to the house. The victim returned and went in his house where he was attacked. Fleming struck the victim on his head with heavy bolt cutters that he had brought to the home. The victim was beaten and his body was bound with duct tape. The victim’s head was wrapped in duct tape covering all but his nostrils. The victim was carried to the bathroom and the doors were barricaded. The defendants then fled. Gillstrap stole the victim’s car and fled in it. Allen, who had remained in the car in the driveway, drove Fleming away from the scene. Two days later, family members discovered the victim dead on the floor of the bathroom in the home.

Law enforcement investigated the matter extensively and uncovered evidence that these defendants had murdered the victim. The hunt for the defendants led to two car chases in an attempt to apprehend them. Ultimately, through cellphone records, surveillance video, physical evidence, witness statements, and old-fashioned police work, law enforcement uncovered what happened and arrested the defendants in the days following the murder. All three defendants gave statements to law enforcement which provided additional evidence of their involvement in the murder.

The evidence showed Allen remained in the car during the murder and while she had no direct involvement in the murder, she was involved in the getaway and in covering up the incident. Allen pled guilty to her involvement and received a total sentence of 15 years to serve 12 years. As part of her plea after the Fleming trial, Allen agreed to testify truthfully against Gillstrap.

Douglas County District Attorney Dalia Racine stated, “This case was a brutal and vicious attack on Stiles Stilley's life. The defendants showed no remorse and continued to victimize Mr. Stilley and his family even after his death.” Racine said, “We applaud the diligent efforts of law enforcement and the prosecution team in holding these defendants accountable. We continue to remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community.”

After hearing all the evidence and testimony, the jury returned a verdict of guilty convicting Marshall Fleming of malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and theft by taking on September 1st, 2023. Fleming was sentenced to life without parole and life with the possibility of parole to run consecutively to one another. On November 1st, after hearing all the evidence and testimony, a jury returned a verdict of guilty convicting Daniel Gillstrap of the same exact charges. Judge Warren sentenced Gillstrap to two life sentences without the possibility of parole to run consecutively to one another.

We enjoyed seeing all the trick or treaters today at the courthouse! We hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween!

Today is Halloween, and it's a perfect time to look back at the fantastic costumes people wore at our Trek or Treat 5k Justice Run last Saturday! We had three categories for the best costumes:

- Best kid costume: The winner was a cute and tiny teddy bear!
- Best individual costume: The winner was Brittany dressed as an astronaut.
- Best group costume: The Queen of Hearts and the Queen of Spades!

Congratulations to our winners! We would also like to thank everyone who participated in the contest and those who wore costumes during the race!

Congratulations to Kaci Davis for receiving the 2022 Child Fatality Review Committee Rookie of the Year Award! This award is given to the committee member who has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, dedication to their team, and a strong passion for improving the child death review process within their committee.

The primary goal of the Child Fatality Review Committee is to thoroughly investigate all injury, sleep-related, and unexpected/suspicious deaths of children under the age of 18. The committee also identifies ways to prevent such deaths from occurring in the future, if possible.

Thank you, Kaci and the entire CFR team for their commitment to the committee and to the community.

Join us at the courthouse on Tuesday, October 31st from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM for trick-or-treating!

We can't wait to see all of the trick-or-treaters!🎃👻

UPDATED:

Join us for some sweet treats and a bit of family-friendly fun tomorrow, October 31st, 2023, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Douglas County Courthouse.

The event is free and open to the public.

In order to ensure a fun and safe experience, please note the following items are prohibited:

-Metal objects
-Sharp pointed objects (even if they are plastic) including swords, knives, etc.
-Toy guns of any variety (handguns, water guns, rifles, nerf guns, etc.)

We look forward to welcoming our trick-or-treaters soon!

Thank you to everyone who came out and joined us this morning for our Trek or Treat 5k Justice Run!

We would like to congratulate and welcome our two newest Assistant District Attorneys to our office and to the State Bar of Georgia! Mary Katherine Karcher was sworn in by Chief Superior Court Judge William Beau McClain last week, and Gandara Gallishaw was sworn in by Superior Court Judge Deah Warren this week. They both completed their apprenticeships with our office prior to becoming Assistant District Attorneys. We are grateful to have both of them as part of our team! Congratulations!

🏅The race medals are polished and ready to go for Saturday! 🏅

There is still time to join us and The ATIR Community for our Trek or Treat 5K Justice Run this Saturday, October 28th at Boundary Waters. All proceeds will benefit local domestic violence awareness programs!

The link to register is in the comments.

Thank you to Ballew Engraving for the medals!

To honor National Disability Employment Awareness Month, our office wore burgundy to show support for Grateful Hands, Inc. and their celebration of the hundreds of thousands of working Americans with disabilities and their contributions to the workforce.

On Thursday, members of our staff attended S.H.A.R.E. HOUSE’s annual candlelight vigil, which is held in honor and remembrance of those affected by domestic violence.

During the ceremony District Attorney Dalia Racine received the Community Award from the S.H.A.R.E.House for her work and dedication to helping domestic violence survivors. Congratulations DA Racine!

What would a 5k the last weekend of October be without a costume contest?! This year we will be awarding the Best Kid, Best Individual, and Best Group Costume!

So, come on out and join The ATIR Community and our office for our Annual Trek or Treat 5k Justice Run on Saturday, October 28th at Boundary Waters Park at 9:00 AM!

You can sign up https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Douglasville/TrekorTreat TODAY!

All proceeds will go to benefit local domestic violence awareness programs.

We look forward to seeing you and your costume on the 28th!

Join us today at the job and resource fair at the Douglasville Conference Center! This fair is being hosted by the Douglas County Chamber, Elevate Douglas, Grateful Hands, and the Bobby Dodd Institute in celebration of National Employee Disability Awareness Month. There are a variety of employers and community resources here today till 6 PM!