Grand Jury Hands Down Indictments

The Stephens County Grand Jury has handed down a number of indictments this month.

Three people have been indicted by the Stephens County Grand Jury on multiple counts related to a home invasion.

18-year old Brandon Isaiah Sparks, John Jaquis Trimier, age unknown, and 22-year old Harley David Williams were indicted on charges of Home Invasion, Robbery by Intimidation, two counts of Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.

In September of last year, deputies were dispatched to 359 Sweetgum Rd in Eastanollee, on a report of a home invasion.

Authorities say multiple subjects had kicked in the back door of the residence, entered the home, and brandished a firearm at the victims.

According to the indictment, during the robbery, the suspects threatened to kill the couple if their property was not handed over.

The victims later told authorities, the same suspects returned later in the morning and took more items from the home.

All three were later arrested and charged.

In other indictments handed down this session…

The Stephens County Grand Jury has indicted a Toccoa man on 12 counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children.

52-year old Brian Keith Yost was arrested in February 2016 after the Stephens County Sheriff’s office along with agents with the GBI obtained a search warrant for Yost’s home on Rock Creek Road.

There they seized his home computer where they discovered a cache of sexually explicit videos involving children.

He was later arrested at his job in Covington, Georgia.

Yost was originally charged with four counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children, but after a lengthy investigation the number of charges was increased.

The indictment outlines each of the counts in graphic detail.

No trial date has yet been set for Yost.

And a man accused of stealing a Stephens County Sheriff patrol car has been indicted on multiple counts.

It happened last July, according to the Stephens County Sheriff’s office.

29-year old Austin Levi Swift of Martin was under arrest and in the back of a patrol vehicle when he managed to jump into the front seat and steal the car.

Swift allegedly led authorities on a multi-county high-speed chase but was eventually arrested after crashing the patrol cruiser.

Swift was indicted on charges of Theft by Taking, Simple Battery, Obstruction of an Officer, Escape, Driving While License Suspended and Reckless Driving.

Additionally, Christopher Sean Hansen of Toccoa was indicted on multiple counts after allegedly attacking three Toccoa Police officers last July.

According to the indictment, Hansen allegedly punched and struck the officers as they attempted to arrest him.

Hansen was indicted on two counts of Obstruction of an Officer, Interference with Government Property, Battery Family Violence, Cruelty to Children in the Third Degree and Criminal Trespass.

And four suspects have been indicted for allegedly entering multiple vehicles.

Anterious Odister, Cody Yates, Jamarius Fortson and Eligah Mosley, all 17 of Toccoa were indicted on four counts of Entering an Automobile, one count of Theft by Taking, two counts of Theft by Receiving Stolen Property and one count of Reckless Conduct.

The four were arrested by Toccoa Police last summer after a string of auto break-ins had been reported in the Andrews Road, Poplar Way area.