An Augusta man with a history of DUI caused two wrecks Friday, including a wreck along I-20 that occurred while he was fleeing a hit & run on Washington Road, authorities said.

Daniel Michael Gentry, 29, is facing charges of DUI, reckless driving and a driving on a suspended license as a result of both accidents.

In May, Gentry was featured in The Jail Report for a DUI charge from Richmond County. He also has previous DUI convictions that led to jail time as well as a label of “habitual violator” and a judge’s demand that he attend AA meetings.

On Friday, he was allegedly driving drunk on Washington Road about 4:45 p.m. when he hit another vehicle with his white 2003 Ford Ranger.

“While traffic investigators were handling this accident, they were then dispatched to a more severe accident on I-20 Westbound, just at the Warren Road Bridge overpass,” sheriff’s Sgt. Monica Belser said. “Investigators then discovered two overturned vehicles.”
Sgt. Belser said Gentry caused the violent wreck with a Lincoln Town Car on the interstate while fleeing the hit & run on Washington Road. In that accident, both cars overturned.

Everyone in the accidents, including Gentry, required medical treatment. Authorities did not release the victims’ names.
According to a jail website, Gentry has been booked into the Richmond County Jail this evening. (The mugshot here from his May DUI arrest.)

In 2008, Gentry was found guilty of a DUI and sentenced to 60 days in jail, 12 months’ probation, fined $1,501 and ordered to perform 30 days of community service, undergo clinical evaluation for substance abuse and have an ignition interlock device installed. A judge also ordered him to surrender his tags, undergo alcohol counseling, continue Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, submit to monitoring with a Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor device, submit to random drug and alcohol screens and attend a risk-reduction program and served notice of habitual violator status.

Two people are wanted after crashing a stolen Ford truck Wednesday morning into a home in the Hunter’s Gate neighborhood of North Augusta.

At 3:38 am, the stolen vehicle was seen leaving a residence on Silver Fox Way when a sheriff’s sergeant signaled the vehicle to stop with lights and siren. The suspects refused to stop the truck.

The truck left the roadway shortly after being signaled and struck a parked vehicle and home in the 5200 block of Silver Fox Way, sheriff’s Capt. Eric Abdullah said in a press release.

“One Black male and White male ran from the scene towards the back of the home they just stuck,” the captain said.

Bloodhounds and investigators joined the search without success.

The pickup truck was reported stolen on Monday from the 400 block of Cherokee Drive.

The photos shown here are of the two men suspected of stealing the truck and fleeing police after the wreck.

Know them? Please call the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office at 803-648-6811 or Crime Stoppers at 888-274-6372.

A Greenbrier High School student discovered a classmate’s notebook with writings about mass murder and suicide, leading to the classmate’s suspension and medical treatment.

No charges have been filed against the notebook’s author, but sheriff’s Capt. Steve Morris said an investigation remains open.

A report says the student who wrote about mass murder is a special education student who suffers from Asperger syndrome. That is a developmental disorder related to autism and characterized by higher than average intellectual ability coupled with impaired social skills and restrictive, repetitive patterns of interest and activities.

Lance Poss, the county’s director of school safety, did not return repeated phone calls this week seeking comment on the possible threats. But Capt. Morris said school officials “are aware of it.”

“I don’t know how direct those threats are either,” Capt. Morris said. “The comments are so vague.”

Greenbrier Assistant Principal Casey Dees told investigators that a student found the notebook with writings about Satanism, serial killers, mass murder and suicidal thoughts. A deputy read the writings and determined the student was a threat to himself and others, according to a sheriff’s report. The assistant principal said the school was aware the student has thoughts of Satanism, mass murder and suicide.

The teen’s parents told the deputy that they were unaware of the extent of their son’s obsession with Satanism, serial killers, mass murder and suicidal thoughts.

The officer “determined the best course of action was medical treatment in lieu of a pursuing a criminal charge against him,” a report says.

“Dees stated the Columbia County School Board would agree to any recommendation of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office,” the report says. “The (teen’s parents) also agreed the best course of action was medical treatment. The Columbia County School Board was still going to proceed with their disciplinary policy which included suspending (the student) from school.”

The deputy transported the student to GRU and released him into the custody of the medical personnel.

An Augusta man who lit his wife on fire at a local auto shop is being sought by authorities.

Ronnie Lee Jones, 30, is accused of dousing wife Cynthia Jones with gasoline and lighting her on fire at McGruder’s Auto on 15th Street, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Shane McDaniel.

Mr. Jones was living at the auto shop where the incident occurred, but his current whereabouts are unknown.

“Ronnie Jones may have suffered injuries in the fire to his hands and/or feet,” Sgt. McDaniel said.

Mrs. Jones’ condition was not immediately clear and was not mentioned in a sheriff’s office press release.

Mr. Jones has two convictions for simple battery – family violence from 2013 and 2014 and received probation in both cases.

Know where Mr. Jones is? Please call the sheriff’s office at 706-821-1020 0r 821-1080.

Aiken County authorities are looking for man whose counterfeit operation was busted earlier this week.

Laquavis Marquis Williams, 20, of Aiken, is wanted for forgery.

After executing a search warrant on his home on Ridgecrest Road, investigators found counterfeit money and the materials and equipment necessary for the manufacturing process, Aiken County sheriff’s Capt. Eric Abdullah said in a press release.

Williams was not at home when investigators arrived at his home with the search warrant. The search came after an undercover operation worked by both the sheriff’s office and Aiken Public Safety.

Know where Williams is? Please call the Sheriff’s Office at 803-648-6811 or Crime Stoppers at 888-274-6372.

UPDATE:

Richmond County authorities have made an arrest in the overnight shooting that killed an Augusta man and injured three others.

Sheriff’s Capt. Calvin Chew said they are not naming the murder suspect “due to the ongoing investigation.”

About 11 p.m. Sunday, deputies were dispatched to a shooting at 1013 Carrie Street. When they arrived they found the body of 29-year-old Quintroy Roberts.

Those injured by the gunfire included: Ladonna Robinson-Wright (37, of 1015 Carrie Street), Daquoria Louis Robinson(20, of 1015 Carrie Street) and Antoine Deion Wright (33, of 1015 Carrie Street). Those three were transported to the Georgia Regent’s University Medical Center ER.

PREVIOUS REPORT:

An Augusta man was fatally shot in the head Sunday night in front of 1013 Carrie Street, authorities said.

Chief Deputy Coroner Kenneth Boose Sr. said 29-year-old Quintroy Roberts (pictured) was shot at least once in the head and was pronounced dead at 12:03 a.m. Monday.

Richmond County Sheriff’s Sgt. Shane McDaniel released no information on a possible motive or suspect in the case.

“Information is very limited at this time,” he said in a press release at 1 a.m. Monday. “Further details will be forthcoming as soon as they are available.”

Friends of Roberts are already remembering him on his Facebook page, where the victim had photos of himself and his children.

“R.I.P. Troy! Dam, it’s a dirty DIRTY world we living in but God have all CONTROL!” said Nyarko Turner.

Last Thursday, the victim posted a message about family on his Facebook page: “Missed my baby girl. Ain’t nothing more important than family. u don’t know what you got until it’s gone. family first.”

Stay tuned for more…

Can you help the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office with a purse snatching that occurred Saturday night at the Lowe’s in Martinez?

The man pictured here is the getaway driver.

Authorities say the robber grabbed a Coach-brand purse from a 58-year-old woman as she stepped out of her vehicle on the passenger side.

The robber was described as a black male in his 20s, about 6-feet tall, 180 pounds, slender build with a dark complexion.

After the purse snatching, the man got into a silver passenger car with tinted windows that was parked several spaces away. The getaway driver then sped away.

The woman’s purse included a cell phone as well as a driver’s license, credit cards and debit cards.

Recognize this guy or know anything about the strong armed robbery, please call the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at 706-541-2800.

A Columbia County School Board employee has been arrested for failing to report child abuse in a bizarre tale of molestation and abortion involving his adopted daughter.

John Leroy Padgett Jr., 49, of Martinez, works as a tribunal hearing officer with the CCBOE and is legally required to report any allegations of child abuse, even within his own family, authorities said.

Last week, the suspect’s 15-year-old adopted daughter, called the sheriff’s office and accused Padgett of molesting her earlier this month, according to an incident report. She also said her brother, who was not adopted, got her pregnant when she was 14, and her father knew about it and took her to get an abortion, the report says.

Sheriff’s Capt. Steve Morris said they have not charged Padgett with molestation on the adopted daughter because the investigation is not complete. But the first part of the investigation revealed that Padgett failed to report child abuse after he found out his biological son had been having sex with his adopted daughter and got her pregnant. The son was 16 at the time.

Because of his job, Padgett is among a category of mandated reporters under Georgia law. That category also includes teacher, counselors, judges, clergymen and more.

Padgett was arrested Friday night and was later released on bond.

Superintendent Dr. Sandra Carraway said they have been trying to talk to Padgett and have been unable to reach him. But his employment status is expected to be discussed at tomorrow’s school board meeting in executive session, she said.

Columbia County authorities want your help to catch this creep.

The man allegedly walked into the women’s restroom at the Evans Home Depot and looked into a stall occupied by a 70-year-old woman. The victim noticed the man staring at her through the cracks in the stall. Then he entered the stall next to her.

The woman exited the stall and washed her hands before getting up the nerve to open the man’s stall. He was facing away from her.

“You’re not supposed to be in here,” she said.

“I must be in the wrong restroom,” he answered.

The guy eventually left the restroom and the store, riding away in the unique camouflage truck pictured here.

The victim told authorities that she thinks the man was pleasuring himself in the stall, but she is not sure since he was facing away from her.

Know the guy? Please stop this creep by passing on a name to the sheriff’s office at 706-541-2800.

Two men are being sought in Thursday night’s robbery at the Circle K in Wagener.

Aiken County authorities say the man in the black shirt (left pictures) came into the Wagener Road store around 10:15 p.m. Thursday, covered his face and demanded money. He then fled in a grey Nissan pick-up truck.

Later, investigators determined a second suspect (right pictures) was also involved and rode away in the same truck.

Know who they are? Please call the Sheriff’s Office at (803) 648-6811 or Crime Stoppers at (888) CRIME-SC (888-274-6372).

Here’s a look at Debra Morris, the North Augusta woman charged Monday with killing husband Stephen Morris with a gunshot wound to the head.

North Augusta authorities were called to the couple’s home on West Woodlawn Avenue just before noon Monday for what they thought was a suicide. But the investigation revealed it was a homicide and Mrs. Morris was eventually booked for murder and weapon possession charges.

Mr. Morris was pronounced dead at the home from a single gunshot wound to the head, authorities said.

A barber working at the Augusta Youth Development Campus has resigned after his arrest for allegedly offering candy to a juvenile in exchange for oral sex.

Steven Kenneth Boler, 51, was charged Wednesday with enticing a child for indecent purposes.

Authorities say Boler tried to pressure a 14-year-old boy to provide oral sex last month inside the youth center.

According to a warrant, Boler asked the youth if he would provide oral sex for one piece of candy. The boy said no.

“For two pieces of candy?” the barber allegedly asked.

“No,” the boy said.

“For a whole bag of candy?”

“Yes.”

Authorities say the boy did not commit the sex act and was not given the candy. But he told other youths, who informed YDC officials of the offer.

Boler was charged Wednesday and booked into the Richmond County Detention Center under no bond.

A woman was charged Friday with providing two cell phones to a convicted killer being held at the Augusta State Medical Prison.

Patty Wanda Green, 56, of Conyers, Ga., was charged with giving convicts items without consent, according to a Columbia County Detention Center report. She remains in the Columbia County Jail without bond.

Green allegedly obtained a cell phone two times for convicted killer Chad Allen, providing it to him at the Augusta State Medical Prison, located on Gordon Highway in Grovetown. The incidents occurred in April and July, according to a warrant.

A year ago, the 36-year-old inmate was found guilty of murder and multiple other charges by a Walton County jury and sentenced to life in prison without parole. According to media reports, Allen was convicted of the 2009 murder of 38-year-old Andrew “Drew” Nichols, whose body was found covered in debris off a rural road in Social Circle in Covington, Ga.

Three other men involved in the case previously pleaded guilty to lesser charges in the case.

Allen has a long history with multiple stints in prison since he was 18 with previous convictions for burglary, drugs and obstruction of law enforcement.

The suspect’s relationship to Allen was not clear. Multiple phone messages to the Georgia Department of Corrections were not returned Monday.

The Augusta couple identified in Tuesday’s murder-suicide had been married just 20 days.

The coroner has identified the couple as Andre Wingo, 46, and Treasy Wingo, 47, of the 900 block of St. Andrews Place in Augusta. That is Estates at Perimeter Apartments in Augusta.

“Both died of at least one gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene,” Coroner Mark Bowen said in a press release.

The coroner said he should be able to say by next week who was the apparent shooter.

According to media reports, Andre Bernard Wingo and Treasy Heard were married Aug. 21, 2014, in Evans.

The coroner said Mr. Wingo was a long-time employee of Kimberly Clark in Beech Island.

A Hephzibah man is accused of attempting sex with his girlfriend’s 7-year-old daughter, according to a sheriff’s report.

Amen Rule Hutto, 38, of Hephzibah, was charged Tuesday with non-aggravated child molestation.

Deputies were called to GRU Hospital on June 26, where the girl’s mother reported her daughter was molested by Hutto, who she descibed as her ex-boyfriend.

The mother told investigators that her daughter told her that day that Hutto tried to have sex with her between May 25 and June 25, a sheriff’s report says.

“The (mother) stated her daughter advised her that when that did not occur, the suspect attempted to make her daughter perform oral sex on him,” a report says.

GRU medical staff notified DFACS and Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services. An investigation led to Hutto’s arrest this week and he was being held under no bond on Wednesday evening.

Broadcast veteran Birnie Florie has been arrested for allegedly punching his wife several times during a fight last week in Evans.

Florie, 68, was charged Friday with simple battery – family violence.

Florie’s wife told Columbia County deputies that she was arguing with her husband when the argument turned physical.

“(He) was holding her in the bedroom and she was trying to get away from him,” a deputy’s report says. “Edward hit her in the face with a closed first approximately three or four times.”

The victim said she struggled to get away and scratched Florie’s arms in the process. Florie claims he was just trying to put his wife in bed when she tried to get away and scratched him. He said he reacted by punching her, a report says.

The couple admitted they had both been drinking and they “appeared to be intoxicated,” the report says. Florie was determined to be the primary aggressor and was arrested.

Florie, whose full name is Edward Birnief Florie Jr.,  is the former station manager for WBBQ and former executive director of the American Red Cross of Augusta.

Nothing good happens at 2 in the morning, right? Two men found that out the hard way Monday morning.

Richmond County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 3600 block of Langdon Drive at about 2:06 a.m. Monday in reference to a shooting.

“Upon arrival it was discovered that two black males were injured as they were walking through the subdivision,” sheriff’s Sgt. Monica Belser said in a press release.

Sgt. Belser said the men were shot, including one in the groin and the other being grazed. The suspects are described as three black males  leaving the scene in a silver 4-door Grand Prix.

“Investigation is in the early stages. More information will be provided as details become available,” Sgt. Belser said.

The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office wanted to alert everyone to on-going attempts to scam citizens out of money.

Alerts have been posted about callers attempting to obtain funds from citizens by telling them that they have missed jury duty or have outstanding fines that need to be paid immediately because of a pending warrant. Law Enforcement Agencies do not collect fines or fees over the phone.

Citizens should be aware that if you have any outstanding fines, you should pay them to the appropriate Court of Clerk Office directly or by mail. Anyone who is identifying themselves as a Law Enforcement Officer over the phone with the intention to collect money, victims should request all contact information and contact numbers from the person who is calling.

Here are a few tips to remember:

• Law Enforcement/government agencies will not contact you demanding immediate payment for outstanding fines/warrants

• Be cautious of giving out personal information over the phone

• Do not agree to any payment over the phone for a company/agency you are not familiar with

If anyone has any information about suspects, want to report calls of this type or any case, we encourage them to contact your local law enforcement agency. Aiken County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 648-6811; Aiken Department of Public Safety at (803) 642-7620; North Augusta Department of Public Safety at (803) 279-2121; or Crime Stoppers at (888) CRIME-SC (888-274-6372)

This week’s issue of The Jail Report has stories you won’t find anywhere else. Here are the mugshots that go along with these stories, from left to right:

1. An Aiken burglar leaves his wallet at the victim’s house!

2. A man tries to sell food stamps on Facebook & only cops are interested

3. A pervert whips it out on the counter for an employee of Great American Cookies at Augusta Mall

4. An Augusta foster mother leaves a 4-year-old girl in the car for nearly three hours while working at the hospital

5. A Columbia County teen was arrested for posting a nude photo of her boyfriend’s ex on Facebook

PLUS:

A RCSO deputy accidentally tasers another officer. Read how it happened in this week’s Jail Report.

An Waynesboro officer was arrested for DUI Tuesday afternoon after hitting a stop sign in Hephzibah on her way to a doctor’s appointment, authorities said.

Kimberly Marie Sanders, 46, of Blythe, was charged with DUI and failure to maintain lane.

Sanders allegedly hit a stop sign with her Chevrolet pickup truck about 3 p.m. Tuesday outside IGA on Highway 88, according to Hephzibah Police Chief Dwyane Flowers. She bent the sign, but backed her truck up and proceeded down the highway, the chief said.

Police got a call about an erratic driver and they were able to pull her over a block and a half away.

“She denied hitting the sign. She didn’t even know she hit the sign,” Chief Flowers said, adding that there was paint transfer from the stop sign on Sanders’ truck.

Sanders passed a Breathalyzer test but failed a field sobriety test given by Chief Flowers. The chief requested a blood sample and Sanders provided one at the scene. Sanders told officers she was on her way to a doctor’s appointment.

“We determined she was impaired. It was not alcohol,” he said, adding that Sanders didn’t admit taking anything to impair her driving.

Sanders was taken to the Richmond County Jail and bonded out early Wednesday.

Waynesboro Police Chief Augustus Palmer III was not in the office Tuesday, but Lt. T. Jackson said he imagines someone will talk to Sanders to see what happened. But they haven’t yet, he said.

As for her employment status, Lt. Jackson said: “There is no comment.”