DONNELL HAWKINS, 30, of 205 Chuck Circle, Warner Robins, Georgia, was found guilty on July 18, 2012 and sentenced today in Houston Superior Court of one count of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, one count of Possession of Ecstasy with Intent to Distribute, and one count of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute. Following a jury trial, Judge George Nunn sentenced Hawkins to Forty (40) years and ordered him to serve the first Eighteen (18) of those years in prison without parole. Upon release from prison, Hawkins will be subject to Special Conditions including drug offender conditions, no possession of alcohol or illegal drugs, no contact with co-defendant, and no crimes involving drugs. Finally, Judge Nunn banished Hawkins from Houston County and all contiguous counties until the year 2050.
On July 2, 2010, Donnell Hawkins was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped at an Operation Rolling Thunder roadblock. Upon approaching the vehicle, Houston County Sheriff Deputy Daniel Glass smelled an overwhelming stench of Marijuana emanating from the inside of the vehicle. A search of the vehicle then commenced under the careful, watchful eyes of Corporal Ronald Brainard and Sergeant Clay Chambers, both of the Houston County Sheriffs Office. Inside the vehicle the officers found 119 grams of Marijuana, 26 tablets of Ecstasy, 10 bags of powdered Cocaine, and 87 rocks of crack Cocaine. A search of Hawkins further revealed $1,027.00 in various denominations. After hearing the case, the jury deliberated for barely one hour before returning a verdict of guilty on all three counts.
COMMENTS FROM DISTRICT ATTORNEY GEORGE HARTWIG: “The prosecution of Donnell Hawkins represents another step in the never-ending fight against drug dealers. With the placing of Hawkins behind bars for the next eighteen (18) years, the citizens of Houston County are now safe from this walking drug store.”
COMMENTS FROM ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY DARYL MANNS: “Hawkins was a big-time drug dealer who sold cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana. Hopefully, this tough sentence will send a strong message—drug dealers will not be tolerated in Houston County.”
The Case was prosecuted by ADA Daryl Manns and Third Year Intern Michael Hill. Donnell Hawkins was defended by attorney Rodney Davis of Warner Robins. For questions please contact Daryl Manns at 478 -218- 4810.