Houston County District Attorney

Danny Mathis, 40 years old, from Warner Robins, was convicted of felony obstruction of an officer by a jury on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, in the Superior Court of Houston County.

Mathis was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Duncan Munn and Mrs. Sabrina Byrne from the office of District Attorney Kelly R. Burke.

Mathis's criminal record dated from 1983, with six prior felony convictions which included three prior felony obstructions. Under Georgia Law, defendants with three prior felony convictions can be sentenced to serve time without parole.

On February 5, 2005, Warner Robins Police Department officers were attempting to arrest Mathis when he raised a fist to one officer and threatened to kill the officers and their families. At trial, the DA's office called other officers who had been attacked by Mathis over the years, dating back as far as 1990.

"This Defendant thought he could attack law enforcement and nobody would care," said District Attorney Kelly R. Burke. "This verdict reflects that Houston County juries will stand up for law enforcement officers and protect those who put their lives on the line for us. Mr. Mathis' five years may seem like a long time to him, but we wish it was more. When he serves his last day, maybe he'll think twice about offering to do violence to our men in blue."

Mathis is currently being held at the Houston County Detention Center awaiting transport by the Georgia Department of Corrections.