The Toombs County Grand Jury convened Tuesday and returned true bills on all the 10 cases presented to them by Middle Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tripp Fitzner’s Office.

Drugs and firearms-related charges were predominant in the indictments, but three cases stood separately from those associated charges.

Those include a charge of Sexual Contact by Employee. Grand Jurors returned a true Bill of Indictment on Chasity Cheyenne Knight, finding evidence presented to them to supported that the former Toombs County High School educator had had sexually explicit conduct with a male student.

Knight had been arrested on August 27, 2024, and charged with the alleged crime following a GBI’s investigation. At the time the GBI released their findings, it was noted on the press release that consent was not a defense.

This week Toombs County Grand Jurors also found enough evidence to indict Ja’Meak Rashod Byrd on one count of Malice Murder; one count of Felony Murder; one count of Aggravated Assault; and one count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. Those charges relate to the death of Timothy Byrd on December 12, 2024. After the shooting and death, warrants were issued for Ja’Meak Byrd, and on December 31, 2024, he was taken into custody and charged.

Also indicted this week by the Grand Jurors was Jamie Richardson Stapleton. According to the indictment, Stapleton worked for AllCare Pharmacy and Healthcare Service and on two separate occasions, allegedly manipulated the business’s QuickBooks Accounting records to falsely reconcile bank statements. She is charged with two counts of Theft by Conversion because the alleged offenses are separate and distinct acts.

Indictments are not proof of guilt but rather a finding from the Grand Jury for the cases to proceed further in the judicial system.