A former Richmond County deputy has pleaded guilty to violently striking a fellow officer in the head with a flashlight during a chaotic 2020 crime scene, bringing a dramatic end to a years-long case that stirred controversy and was caught on body camera.
Brandon Keathley was sentenced Wednesday to five years of probation by Superior Court Judge Jesse C. Stone. His lawyer said the disgraced deputy is done with law enforcement.
Keathley was indicted in December 2020 for aggravated assault and aggravated assault on a police officer after striking Deputy Nicholas Nunes during a response to a shooting. The confrontation occurred as Nunes reportedly attempted to take over administering first aid to 17-year-old DeAngelo Burns, who later died.
The case made headlines at the time and drew public criticism. Then-Sheriff Richard Rountree called the incident “embarrassing” but declined to fire Keathley or pursue charges. That decision was overruled by then-District Attorney Natalie Paine, who presented the case to a grand jury, leading to felony indictment.
While the charges were pending, Keathley remained on paid leave for several years. He was quietly let go through attrition on Jan. 1 under current Sheriff Gino Brantley’s administration.
Due to a conflict of interest — current Augusta DA Jared Williams previously worked for Keathley’s defense attorney’s firm — Paine, now chief assistant DA in Columbia County, was reassigned to the case.
Deputy Nunes, appearing via Zoom during Wednesday’s hearing, told the court he had waited five years for justice and read a prepared statement (see below).
In an interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in Arizona, Nunes expressed deep frustration over how the case was handled, calling the plea deal “a slap in the face” and the sentence “the softest imaginable.” He said he was blindsided by the Zoom hearing, had difficulty being heard, and strongly opposed the use of the First Offender Act, calling it a loophole that enables violent crime.
Nunes accused Keathley of past misconduct and said the officer was shielded by former Sheriff Roundtree’s “good old boy” system. Even so, Nunes said he is ready and willing to return to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Brantley, but is having trouble getting the paperwork completed.
Keathley’s defense attorney, Jacque Hawk, stated his client has no plans to return to law enforcement. Georgia law prohibits certification of officers serving a felony sentence.
NUNES’ STATEMENT READ IN COURT:
“For more than 5 years I have stood by and waited for justice to run its course. I remained steadfast in my belief in the justice system. We know all crimes against others is heinous, especially horrendous when it’s from the ones that swore to uphold the law and protect others.
“Today is the day where justice prevails and sets an echoing tone for all to hear, a constant reminder for us to remember what is right and what is wrong. Especially for those in uniform.
“For today I am the voice of all past, present and future victims of police brutality, abuse and injustice. As that voice and the victim at the forefront of this case, I ask that the court, find it fitting for the max sentencing to be issued as a reminder that crime comes at a cost, that must be answered and its name is accountability.”
The post No Jail Time for Former RCSO Deputy Who Struck Colleague During Deadly Shooting Response appeared first on AugustaCrime.com.