Athens DA candidate gives poor report on incumbent’s handling of recent criminal cases

Independent DA candidate Kalki Yalamanchili

Kalki Yalamanchili, a former prosecutor who is running as an independent candidate against Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez has the following to report concerning the incumbent’s handling of recent criminal court cases:

The week of June 24th the District Attorney's office had 3 jury trials in Clarke County.  They lost all three of those jury trials and had a prior conviction reversed by the court of appeals due to a badly drafted indictment and poor presentation of evidence. 

District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez

State of Georgia v.Shelby Michelle Hammock

This was a theft by conversion case.  My understanding is that it was tried by Ms. Gonzalez.  It resulted in a directed verdict of acquittal.

State of Georgia v. Tyshun Xavier Billings

This was possession with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, and possession of firearm by a convicted felon.  After a not guilty verdict was returned by the jury on the possession with intent and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, the Court entered a directed verdict on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon due to the State having made an error in drafting the indictment for that charge.

State of Georgia v. Terrance Grant and Sherod Porter.

This was gang related armed robbery and aggravated assault.  Two of the co-defendants went to trial and were found not guilty.  The State dismissed the gang related charges because they had not adequately prepared to be able to prove them at trial.

Beckett v. State 

This was a conviction for fleeing and attempting to elude that was reversed by the court of appeals.  Judge Hodges' concurrence highlights how poorly the prosecution was handled.  It is very unusual for an appellate judge to write a concurrence to specifically highlight the poor performance of the prosecution.

On July 16th, the DA's office caused a mistrial with prejudice during the testimony of the first witness in State of Georgia v. Rodarius Favors.  This was possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Judge Lott referred to the DA's office's performance as incompetent.

This past week there was another directed verdict of acquittal in State of Georgia v. Tysamin Glaze and Trontaveous Mattox.

This was an aggravated assault with a firearm.

I believe these are the last five trials at the DA's office.  All have been lost and 3 did not even get to the point of reaching a jury for deliberation due to poor preparation and presentation of evidence.  I honestly cannot remember a period of time where I have heard of any DA's office performing so poorly in the courtroom.