The May term of the Toombs County Grand Jury convened recently with District Attorney Tripp Fitzner’s Office presenting 14 bills. All were returned as true bills of indictments, meaning Grand Jurors found enough evidence in the cases presented to them to charge those accused with the crimes levied against them. Many of those individuals indicted were charged with allegedly perpetrating unlawful acts against minor children.

Three counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children were charged against Randall Sabastian McKee who was accused of having possession of digital images of a minor female child in various explicit acts or exposures.

Grand jurors also indicted Clifford Tolbert on one count of Criminal Attempt to Commit Incest and Criminal Intent to Commit Child Molestation. Another count of Obstruction of an Officer was added because Tolbert hindered apprehension and fled on foot when a Vidalia Police officer attempt to take him into custody on the previous two charges.

And a mother has been charged with Cruelty to Children in the First Degree for acts she did before her baby was even born. Grand Jurors found that Nyree Knowles exposed her unborn baby to cocaine which resulted in the baby suffering withdrawal symptoms after the birth.

A final indictment for crimes against children was that of Timothy Sturgis, Jr., who allegedly struck a child in the face and forced that child’s head against a window. Sturgis Is charged with Cruelty to Children in the First Degree.

Other indictments handed down by Grand Jurors included Aggravated Assaults, Possession of Firearms During the Commission of Crimes or by Convicted Felons, Making Terroristic Threats, Theft by Shoplifting, Burglary, and Financial Card Fraud.

An indictment is not a determination of guilt and those individuals indicted are presumed innocent of the charges until proven guilty in court or by admission.