Stephens Co. Grand Jury Issues Indictments

Stephens County grand jurors indict three individuals accused of burglary and assault.

Clara Palmer, 31, James Roberts, 31, and Shane Roberts, 28, all of Toccoa were indicted Thursday on one count each of burglary and one count each of aggravated assault.

Stephens County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested the three individuals back in February after allegedly breaking into a residence on Cedar Drive, assaulting a juvenile inside the home and then fleeing.

Also indicted last week were four individuals who were arrested in September, 2016 after allegedly fighting with authorities.

Last week, the grand jury indicted Pervasia Craft, 22 of Toccoa, Derrez Lawrence, 20 of Hartwell, Deiondre Ramsey, 19 of Hartwell, and Joshua Tate, 22 of Toccoa on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a schedule IV controlled substance with intent to distribute, two counts each of obstruction of an officer and tampering with evidence.

The charges result from an incident that occurred on September 16, 2016 when Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence at Fernpoint Apartments in reference to a physical dispute in progress.

Inside the apartment, deputies saw a quantity of marijuana, digital scales and packaging material in plain view. They then obtained a search warrant for the residence and while two deputies were waiting for the other officers to return with the warrant, Craft, Lawrence, Ramsey and Tate entered the apartment, assaulted the deputies by shoving them and began removing evidence.

As a whole last week, the Stephens County grand jury issued true bills of indictment on 17 people.