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Law & Order

Ga. Supreme Court denies stay of execution for Davis

ATLANTA — The Georgia Supreme Court has unanimously denied a stay of execution for Troy Anthony Davis. Davis, 42, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at 7 p.m. at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson. Davis was convicted of the 1989 murder of Savannah Police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail. Specifically, the Court denied Davis’ motion for a stay of execution and a request for the court to hear another appeal.
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Law & Order

GBI: Drug overdoses on the rise

ATLANTA — The number of people dying from drug overdoses in Georgia — whether it be prescription or illicit drugs or a mix of the two — is on the rise, according to a newly released GBI analysis. The examination, which looked at autopsies that GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in 152 counties statewide performed, found a 10 percent increase in the number of prescription overdose deaths in 2010 when compared to 2009. The analysis looked
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Law & Order

Ga. execution put on hold for a day

ATLANTA — The scheduled execution of a man convicted of murdering his parents and his 14-year-old sister in Cobb County in 1993 has been postponed a day, various outlets reported. A judge previously ordered that the Wednesday lethal injection of Andrew Grant DeYoung be videotaped. The state sought to overturn the order, but failed, according to published reports. The execution as been put on hold while the state handles the logistics of the videotaping. The
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Law & Order

Three former Department of Revenue employees plead to credit card fraud

A trio of former Department of Revenue employees pleaded guilty this week to financial transaction card fraud in DeKalb County Superior Court, state officials said. Judge Melvin Westmoreland sentenced Marcus Britt, Micah Decuir and William Gladney to 30 days imprisonment and two years on probation. In addition, the three were ordered to pay restitution to the Department of Revenue. Britt, who pleaded guilty to nine counts, was ordered to pay $877.53; Decuir, who pleaded guilty
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Law & Order

Man faces Wednesday execution for murdering parents, sister

ATLANTA — A man convicted in the 1993 murders of his parents and sister faces a Wednesday execution. However, lawyers for Andrew Grant DeYoung contend one of the drugs the state is planning on using during the execution — an alternative to sodium thiopental — could lead to pain, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. A judge ordered that the exeuction be videotaped, the newspaper reported. DeYoung was convicted in Cobb County of the June 14, 1993, murders of
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Law & Order

Convicted murderer faces July 20 execution

ATLANTA — A man faces a July 20 execution for the murder of his parents and sister. Andrew Grant DeYoung was convicted in the 1993 murders of his parents, Kathryn and Gary DeYoung and sister, Sarah DeYoung. If executed, he will be the 28th inmate put to death by lethal injection in Georgia. DeYoung was convicted in Cobb County.
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Georgia

Takes on Georgia’s new immigration law

ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal on Friday signed into law a controversial measure that aims to crack down on the state’s illegal alien population. Here are several takes on the signing: “Current economic conditions have made it painfully obvious that the state of Georgia literally cannot afford to continue this broken system.” — State Rep. Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City “Illegal immigration is a complex and troublesome issue, and no state alone can fix it,” Deal
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Authorities: Athens-Clarke officer killed

An Athens-Clarke County police officer was shot and killed on Tuesday, and officers were hunting for a suspect, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. Athens-Clarke County police said in a statement they were searching for Jamie Hood. Authorities described Hood as a 33-year-old black man who weights 175 pounds and is 5 feet, 9 inches tall. “He should be considered armed and dangerous,” police said in a brief statement. “He is wanted for murder.” Media reports
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Georgia

Ga. rolls out criminal justice reform council

ATLANTA — Citing disconcerting numbers about Georgia’s prison population, state leaders on Wednesday announced the 2011 Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgia. Georgia’s prison population, which has grown by 4.6 percent during the past two years, is the fourth largest in the country, according to state officials. “With this new commission in place, we hope to uncover new approaches to make Georgia communities safer while increasing offender accountability, improving rehabilitation efforts and lowering