
Atlanta


Deal appoints Blackwell to Supreme Court of Georgia
ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal today appointed an appeals court judge to the state’s highest court Keith R. Blackwell’s appointment to the Supreme Court of Georgia fills a vacancy left by outgoing Justice George H. Carley. Blackwell’s appointment is effective upon his swearing in, scheduled for July 19. Carley’s resignation is effective July 17, according to Deal’s office. “The Supreme Court will benefit from Judge Blackwell’s experience on both sides of the bench,” Deal said

Sportswriter Bisher dies
ATLANTA — Legendary sportswriter Furman Bisher, who covered the likes of Shoeless Joe Jackson and Ty Cobb, has died, ajc.com reported. He was 93. In September, Bisher was inducted into the Atlanta Press Club Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class. For more information, visit: http://www.ajc.com/sports/sportswriter-furman-bisher-dies-1390135.html

Three meat co. owners sentenced to federal prison
ATLANTA — Three owners of an Atlanta meat company were sentenced this week to federal prison on charges of tax and immigration fraud. U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr. sentenced Rhett Maughon, 49, of Decatur, Rafael Villarreal Sr., 42, of Suwanee, and Marcus Maughon, 47, of Decatur, to prison after all three pleaded guilty to various charges in October 2011. The men pleaded after roughly two days of trial testimony but before the government closed its case. “The defendants’ unwritten business

Three meat co. owners sentenced to federal prison
ATLANTA — Three owners of an Atlanta meat company were sentenced this week to federal prison on charges of tax and immigration fraud. U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr. sentenced Rhett Maughon, 49, of Decatur, Rafael Villarreal Sr., 42, of Suwanee, and Marcus Maughon, 47, of Decatur, to prison after all three pleaded guilty to various charges in October 2011. The men pleaded after roughly two days of trial testimony but before the government closed its case. “The defendants’ unwritten business


Reports: Trooper involved in fatal crash fired
ATLANTA — A Georgia State Patrol Trooper involved in a fatal crash on New Year’s Eve that claimed the life of the wife of the Atlanta Braves’ trainer has been fired, according to published reports. On Dec. 31, Trooper First Class Donald Crozier was en route to help a trooper involved in a pursuit when he ran a red light and crashed his cruiser into a second vehicle driven by Braves Trainer Jeff Porter, according

Former NBA player sentenced to probation
ATLANTA — A former NBA player was sentenced Thursday to probation and ordered to pay restitution after pleading guilty to financial transaction card fraud, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said. Ronald Michael Behagen, 60, who played seven seasons in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks and other teams, faces three years of probation and must pay $3, 570 in restitution. According to prosecutors, between April and June 2011, Behagen used a 68-year old Sandy
