Criminal court calendar loaded with child abuse, drug and assault cases

Senior Writer

The November term of Upson criminal court opens today with Superior Court Judge Johnnie Caldwell Jr. facing a docket filled with cases involving crimes against children.

Of the 189 cases on the calendar, 78 people charged with violent offenses such as murder, aggravated assault, child molestation and rape. Of those facing charges, 28 involve crimes against children.

The docket includes 15 separate charges of child molestation, 17 cruelty to children charges and five charges of computer pornography and child exploitation.

Other offenses against children on this term's docket include murder, incest, rape and kidnapping.

"There has been a marked increase in crimes against children in the last two years," Griffin Judicial Circuit Public Defender Arthur English said Sunday.

"Anybody involved in criminal law will tell you there are more molestation cases, more cruelty to children cases and more statutory rape cases," he said. "And these are the most miserable, most gut-wrenching cases to deal with."

Another 47 people are set to be tried on drug related charges while 49 others are charged with property crimes such as theft, entering an auto and burglary.

English said one case which would probably be tried this term is that of Darryl "Rico" Ricard, the man accused of kidnapping an assaulting a 12-year-old girl last July.

Ricard is charged with kidnapping, aggravated child molestation, aggravated assault and rape.

The calendar this term involves several other high profile cases, including the case of Otheron Marcel Walker, who was charged in October of last year with murder in connection with the beating death of his 9-month-old daughter.

Other cases on the docket this term include the Katherine Napier, who is accused of burning her 1-year-old grandson in at least three places with a lit cigarette while she cared for the child.

Judge Caldwell was to begin hearing proposed plea bargain agreements this morning, possibly selecting a trial jury this afternoon.