Staff Reports



TIFTON — An Atlanta woman has been charged with second-degree homicide by vehicle, a misdemeanor, and failure to maintain lane after an investigation into the death of a Moultrie woman following a November wreck.

According to a spokesman at Tifton’s Georgia State Patrol Office, the GSP’s Special Collision Reconstruction Team investigated the November wreck that happened .7 miles south of Kell Road on U.S. Highway 319. Three vehicles, two passenger cars and one tractor trailer, were involved. Theresa Austin, 37, of Atlanta, was traveling south on the highway when she crossed into the northbound lane of traffic. Her vehicle then struck the vehicle driven by Lacey James, 35, of Moultrie head-on and James was killed. Austin and a passenger in Lacey’s vehicle were also injured.



Tifton Police Dept.

Daniel James Cox, 25, 532 E. 16th St., was charged Friday with loitering or prowling.

Donald Franklin Gilman, 46, 330 Terrell Road, Ashburn, was charged Thursday with driving without a valid tag or license and disorderly conduct.

Jose Martinez, 51, 155 Parkway Drive, was charged Friday with public drunkenness.

James Samuel Shamis, 36, 714 Armour Road, was charged Friday with unlawful window tinting and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Ben Samuel Skinner, 45, 412 Tift Ave., #10, was charged Friday with public drunkenness.

Brenda Gayle Ward, 54, 5935 Graveline Drive, Orlando, Fla., was charged Thursday with DUI, driving with a suspended or revoked license, an open container violation and following too closely.



Tift County Sheriff’s Office

Theresa Austin, 37, 174 Woodward Ave., Apt. 307, Atlanta, was charged Thursday with second degree homicide by vehicle and failure to maintain lane.

Lionel McKinley, 24, 1813 N. Central Ave., was charged Thursday with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Melvin Tracy Suggs Jr., 37, 1560 Maude Williams, Ashburn, was charged Thursday with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and theft by taking motor vehicle.

Luis Trejo, 49, 139 Big Oak Tail, Madison, Fla., was charged Friday with speeding in a construction zone and driving without a license.

Cornelius Keaon White, 27, 412 Emerson O’Bynes, was charged Thursday with a probation violation.