Post by Shuftin on Oct 4, 2006 4:59:44 GMT -5
2006-09-30
EFFINGHAM COUNTY, GEORGIA – The second trial for former Savannah police officer Albert Jeffcoat is sending him to prison for life. Jeffcoat was found guilty by an Effingham County jury Friday afternoon. His first trial in May resulted in a hung jury. He was accused of attacking his ex-wife the day before their divorce was finalized. Hilda Jeffcoat claims he pepper-sprayed, handcuffed and sexually assaulted her.
By late Friday afternoon, Albert Jeffcoat was on his way to his temporary new home at the Screven County Jail, more than 30 miles away. Jeffcoat, who faced charges of kidnapping with bodily injury, rape, aggravated sodomy and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime was only found guilty of kidnapping with bodily injury. Now, as he waits to move to prison, the Effingham County Sheriff says, the former police officer's transfer to Screven County is for his own safety.
"A lot of inmates look at (police officers as), "this guy may be one of those guys who put me here" and it's not a good idea to keep them together," explained Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie.
McDuffie said they simply didn't have the space to hold Jeffcoat any longer without putting him in the general jail population.
"It's just a real big safety issue," he said. "A lot of police officers have been killed in situations like that. Ex-police officers who've been arrested."
Some people who've been following the trial are not disappointed Jeffcoat's leaving Effingham County.
"A life sentence is good," said Thad Butler from Guyton. "The trouble with a life sentence, though, is they turn them out early, then they'll get out and do something again."
Greg Broadstreet, from Rincon, also agreed with the verdict.
"Anybody who takes advantage of a lady like that," Broadstreet said, "he should go to jail and stay in jail for life."
"The verdict, I think, fits the crime," added Flora Waddey of Rincon. "I think they need to start getting tougher on people. It shows other people that they just can't go around, just because they have authority or think they have authority, they can't treat people in that kind of way." Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie said Jeffcoat will likely be moved to either the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson or the Coastal State Prison in Chatham County. He will be eligible for parole in 14 years. Jeffcoat's defense team is filing an appeal.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY, GEORGIA – The second trial for former Savannah police officer Albert Jeffcoat is sending him to prison for life. Jeffcoat was found guilty by an Effingham County jury Friday afternoon. His first trial in May resulted in a hung jury. He was accused of attacking his ex-wife the day before their divorce was finalized. Hilda Jeffcoat claims he pepper-sprayed, handcuffed and sexually assaulted her.
By late Friday afternoon, Albert Jeffcoat was on his way to his temporary new home at the Screven County Jail, more than 30 miles away. Jeffcoat, who faced charges of kidnapping with bodily injury, rape, aggravated sodomy and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime was only found guilty of kidnapping with bodily injury. Now, as he waits to move to prison, the Effingham County Sheriff says, the former police officer's transfer to Screven County is for his own safety.
"A lot of inmates look at (police officers as), "this guy may be one of those guys who put me here" and it's not a good idea to keep them together," explained Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie.
McDuffie said they simply didn't have the space to hold Jeffcoat any longer without putting him in the general jail population.
"It's just a real big safety issue," he said. "A lot of police officers have been killed in situations like that. Ex-police officers who've been arrested."
Some people who've been following the trial are not disappointed Jeffcoat's leaving Effingham County.
"A life sentence is good," said Thad Butler from Guyton. "The trouble with a life sentence, though, is they turn them out early, then they'll get out and do something again."
Greg Broadstreet, from Rincon, also agreed with the verdict.
"Anybody who takes advantage of a lady like that," Broadstreet said, "he should go to jail and stay in jail for life."
"The verdict, I think, fits the crime," added Flora Waddey of Rincon. "I think they need to start getting tougher on people. It shows other people that they just can't go around, just because they have authority or think they have authority, they can't treat people in that kind of way." Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie said Jeffcoat will likely be moved to either the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson or the Coastal State Prison in Chatham County. He will be eligible for parole in 14 years. Jeffcoat's defense team is filing an appeal.