Mother and son arrested after begging in parking lot of westside Athens market
- Classic City News
- Feb 6
- 1 min read

By Joe Johnson
A man and his mother were arrested last week at Walmart Neighborhood Market on Atlanta Highway by police who responded to a complaint that they were begging in the parking lot.
Upon arrival, police found the entrance door had been pulled off of its tracks, and both alleged beggars were inside the store.
Merle Boling, 69, told police that she had entered because she’d been “freezing to death” and her son, Brent Boling, 23, admitted to damaging the door because he wanted to find an employee who could jumpstart his car.
When being arrested, the man concealed a bag of Xanax pills in his closed fist and an officer pressed a stun gun into his forearm to make him drop it.
A search of his car turned up fentanyl and methamphetamine. He claimed ownership of all of the drugs.
He was charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminal damage to property, and criminal trespass,
Merle Boling also was charged with criminal trespass.
Neither had posted bail as of Thursday,


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Yeah, he isn't 23. She is 69 years old & jail has his date of birth 1991. Math doesn't add up
I don't understand face and neck tattoos.
Do they make it hard to find a decent job that pays a living wage so you can find affordable housing?
Wonderfull day in the neighborhood.
What a freakshow.