Latest news with #SonyaAllen
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cobb County community leaders demand charges be dropped against accused Walmart kidnapper
The Brief The Cobb County Democratic Party is joining growing calls for Mehandra Patel to be released. They're demanding the Cobb County District Attorney Sonya Allen release Patel and drop all charges against him. Acworth Police arrested Patel in March and charged him with attempted kidnapping after a mother claimed he tried to snatch her toddler from her arms in Walmart before fleeing the scene. But video evidence released by his attorney seems to contradict that account. The Cobb County District Attorney's Office told FOX 5 in a statement that they wouldn't be moving forward with the case if there wasn't a "sound, legal basis" and that the evidence would be "appropriately addressed" at a bond hearing Tuesday. ACWORTH, Ga. - The Cobb County Democratic Committee is advocating for the release of Mahendra Patel, a 56-year-old man charged with attempted kidnapping at a Walmart in Acworth. Despite their calls, the Cobb County District Attorney's Office has stated they will proceed with the case. The backstory Patel was arrested after Acworth police alleged he attempted to snatch a toddler from his mother's arms in March. However, surveillance footage released by Patel's attorney appears to contradict this account. The video shows Patel briefly trying to pick up the child, which his attorney claims was an attempt to prevent the child from falling out of a shopping cart. Patel is then seen calmly showing the mother Tylenol, checking out, and exiting the store. What they're saying Essence Johnson, Chair of the Cobb County Democratic Party, argues that the video evidence demonstrates Patel's innocence and is calling for his release, the dropping of charges, and the sealing of his record. Patel has been held in Cobb County Jail for over 40 days, and an online petition for his release has garnered 39,000 signatures. Johnson says she and other Democratic Party officials have worked to contact DA Allen about the case but have not received any response. "This could be Mr. Patel, could be me, it could be you, it could be anybody," said Johnson. She encourages people to attend the bond hearing Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. to show their support for Patel's release. The other side The District Attorney's Office, led by Sonya Allen, maintains that they will not prosecute without a sound legal basis and are committed to upholding the rights of victims and defendants. FOX 5 reached out to the DA's office and asked whether they were considering releasing him. They sent us back this statement: "It is neither the policy nor the objective of the Cobb Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office to expend valuable taxpayer resources prosecuting individuals without a sound legal basis. This Office remains firmly committed to upholding the rights of every victim and every defendant, in accordance with the law and the principles of justice. "In every case, we are guided by the law, the evidence, and our duty to the community," said Cobb Judicial Circuit District Attorney Sonya Allen. Consistent with the ethical rules that govern our profession, we are prohibited from publicly discussing the facts of any pending criminal case outside of formal court proceedings. Mr. Patel has a bond hearing scheduled for Tuesday, May 6. At that time, the facts and evidence in this matter will be appropriately addressed." The Source Information for this story was provided by The Cobb County Democratic Committee, The Cobb County District Attorney's Office and from previous reporting by Fox 5 Atlanta.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Cobb County DA discusses changes to cases, programs
The Cobb County district attorney is discussing the changes she is making as the county's top prosecutor. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] In the first 100 days as the first African American woman elected as Cobb County District Attorney, Sonya Allen has hit the ground running. 'We've restructured the pre-trial diversion program. We've had more community involvement,' Allen told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell. When it comes to how cases are being handled, some old cases are being reviewed. 'We have chief deputies assist DA's that are looking at cases with their units. They are not just waiting for their units to process cases. They are looking through the units and looking at the cases and trying to evaluate what cases may need to come forward sooner and quicker,' Allen said. 'If it's something that needs to come back at grand jury then that's what we'll do if it's.' TRENDING STORIES: Former Georgia Police Academy instructor charged with child molestation 1 dead, 4 injured after crash at busy Atlanta intersection Officer nearly weeks away from graduating police academy dies in off-duty accident Allen recently launched something new, a leadership academy. Prosecutors will attend monthly training. There is even more on the horizon. 'We have a lot of retirees in Cobb that have retired and they want to provide their services looking at our cold cases. We've identified a number of cold cases to get started on,' Allen said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Former Cobb deputy faked multiple sclerosis to get donations, prosecutors say
A former Cobb County sheriff's deputy has now been indicted on fraud charges after prosecutors say he faked being sick. Cobb County District Attorney Sonya Allen's office confirmed on Friday that Mark Ryan Hampton, 38, was indicted by a grand jury on charges of violation of oath by a public officer and violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The indictment says that in Nov. 2021, the sheriff's office received several complaints about a social media account associated with Hampton. It goes on to allege that Hampton defrauded people and organizations by claiming he had multiple sclerosis and associated complications to get money and gifts. It's unclear how much money he received. TRENDING STORIES: Missing 5-year-old's body found in Gwinnett County pond Principal identifies student killed in after-school shooting in DeKalb Man accused of trying to kidnap toddler at Acworth Walmart says he was just trying to help Hampton was arrested in June 2022. 'This indictment reflects our commitment to upholding the law and ensuring that public trust is maintained. He betrayed that trust by deceiving others for personal gain. No one should ever feel they are above the law,' said Cobb County District Attorney Sonya F. Allen. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
