Author: On Common Ground News

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A Lilburn man was found guilty of repeatedly sexually abusing two children.  Rodolfo Grimaldo-Sanchez, 40, was convicted of two counts of rape, three counts of aggravated child molestation, and three counts of child molestation for molesting and sexually abusing the two siblings over the course of at least six years. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, plus five years.  “We are pleased with the results of this trial and pray that the victims are comforted by this outcome,” Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “These victims’ courage to face this defendant in…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— The DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD) plans to hold a one-stop hiring event on Saturday, May 3, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Tobie Grant Recreation Center, 593 Parkdale Drive, Scottdale, GA 30079.  Candidates get the chance to complete a large part of the hiring process, including running the Physical Agility Test and taking part in job interviews. Candidates are encouraged to bring a comfortable set of clothes for the Agility Test and a set of clothes for the interview process. Recruit and certified officer positions are available and candidates could walk away with a conditional offer,…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Clerk of Superior and State Courts Janice Morris recently hosted a notary training session that drew a crowd of participants.  The free event on April 22 was held at the JP Carr Community Center in Conyers in partnership with the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority for established notaries and those seeking to become notaries.  Participants had a chance to learn about basic notary procedure; legal guidelines of a Georgia notary; and changes under Georgia’s new House Bill1292. 

DECATUR, GA–DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced the convictions by jury trial in the murder of a 20-year-old man at a gas station in unincorporated Decatur. On Wednesday, April 23, jurors found Quavion Hale, 20, and Stantavis Reese, 18, both guilty on charges of Malice Murder, two counts of Felony Murder, Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony stemming from the murder of Akhir Muhammad, 20, on Jan. 10, 2023. According to the investigation, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department responded around 6 p.m. to a call of a person…

ATLANTA— Thrill seekers will want to check out Six Flags Over Georgia Amusement Park’s new Georgia Gold Rusher ride. The first-of-its-kind, free-spinning gondola ride is now open, after announcing    the ride would debut Spring 2025.. The Gold Rusher  offers high-speed, high-elevation thrills with twists, turns, and exciting water features. Inspired by Georgia’s 1885 Gold Rush era, the coaster introduces riders to William “Willy” Gibson and his hydraulic mining machine through immersive storytelling. Georgia’s Gold Rush in the 1880s brought prospectors from far and wide to extract the precious ore. One such miner was William “Willy” Gibson, a young, smart entrepreneur…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Rockdale County School District’s Superintendent Shirley Chesser on Thursday (April 23) addressed the community backlash the District has faced this week over a pair of “Whites Only” and “Coloreds Only” signs that were posted in Honey Creek Elementary School’s cafeteria.  The Jim Crow signs came to light after a Conyers mother told Channel 11 that her first and fifth grade children saw the signs and were confused and hurt by them. On Common Ground News learned on Thursday that the teacher who initiated the Social Studies project is black and the signs were part of a larger lesson…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA— The DeKalb County School District is investigating a fight between three students, a teacher, and what appears to be a security guard at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. High School.  On Common Ground News has learned that the teacher is a veteran educator, church elder, and well-connected community member in three local counties.   The brawl broke out in a hallway on Tuesday, April 22, and was captured in a 45-second cell video that students are sharing on social media.  District officials said three students have been charged in the incident with Battery and Disrupting Public School. The…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A Gwinnett County jury has returned a guilty verdict against a Buford couple involved in a case of repeated sexual abuse a 7-year-old girl with the mother instructing the girl to lie to authorities.  Javen Tyree Richardson, 25, was convicted of four counts of aggravated child molestation and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences with the first 80 years to serve in prison. Akilah Amin, the child’s 30-year-old mother, was convicted of one count of influencing a witness and one count of cruelty to children in the second degree. She was sentenced to 20 years with the first seven…

ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp today announced that Angelique McClendon has been appointed as the new commissioner of the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) effective May 1.  McClendon, a Rockdale County resident, has been serving the department as General Counsel and Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, where she has been a subject matter expert on all legal and regulatory issues relating to the agency’s statutory responsibilities. She will succeed Spencer Moore, who has dedicated over 30 years of service to the state of Georgia.  “On behalf of hardworking Georgians, I want to congratulate Angelique McClendon on her…