November 2014 term Grand Jury returns 32 True Bills of Indictment

Published 3:42 pm Wednesday, February 4, 2015

The November 2014 term Grand Jury for Decatur County convened Tuesday, returning 32 True Bills of Indictments, two No Bills of Indictment and five cases to continue for the term.

Among multiple indictments for cases involving drug use, theft and assault, standout cases included Child Molestation, Cruelty to Children and Fraud in Obtaining Controlled Substance.

Christopher Michael Conley was charged with four counts of Cruelty to Children, one count of aggravated assault, one count of aggravated sodomy and one count of child molestation. Between the Aug. 1, 2013 and May 20, 2014, Conley engaged in sexual conduct with a child under the age of 16.  Between February and May 2014, he engaged in Aggravated Sodomy with another woman, and was charged with Aggravated Assault for beating her with a baseball bat. Conley’s four counts of Cruelty to Children were charged for jeopardizing the health and well-being of three different kids, including depriving them of necessary sustenance and physical abuse.

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Another Child Molestation case involved Gregory Bernard Murphy, who sexually abused his daughter under the age of 16 on multiple occasions between August 2008 and July 2012. Murphy was also charged with one count of Incest and one count of Rape for these actions.

“We need to do everything in our power to make sure that the folks that do these acts are held responsible,” South Georgia Judicial Circuit District Attorney Joe Mulholland said. “We need to educate and make sure we are getting these cases handled properly and professionally, and take measures to stop what is going on.”

Steven Gregory Rentz was charged with one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute for possessing Amphetamine. He was also charged with four counts of Fraud in Obtaining Controlled Substance for getting Hydrocodone from Bainbridge Pharmacy under his wife’s name without her consent from August 2013 to June 2014.

“Obviously we have seen an increase in prescription pill use in our circuit, and we won’t treat this case any differently,” Mulholland said. “Drug cases affect every aspect of the community. We need to make sure those abusing them are getting the help they need and those selling them are held to the consequences.”