William Mercer

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Name:
Mercer, William Bernard

Date of Booking:
05/30/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
BATTERY

FALSE IMPRISONMENT

PUBLIC DRUNKENESS

PUBLIC INDECENCY-1ST OR 2ND OFFENSE – MISDEMEANOR

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On May 29th, 2026, at 2302 hours, I was dispatched to Comfort Suites room [REDACTED] in reference to a domestic incident.

Upon arrival, I spoke with [VICTIM #1], who stated William Mercer hit her. I observed what appeared to be blood on [VICTIM #1]’ shirt and asked her if she was bleeding or if it was something already on her shirt. I checked [VICTIM #1]’ head in the area near the blood and observed blood on her left cheek, her left ear, and in her hair on the left side of her head. [VICTIM #1] stated she could feel pain where the blood was. [VICTIM #1] also had small red dots around some of her hair follicles, possibly from her hair being pulled. I observed a medium sized knot directly above [VICTIM #1]’ right eyebrow that was purple and blue in color. [VICTIM #1] also had red marks on her face and on the left side of her neck. [VICTIM #1] refused EMS on scene.

Once we were able to get into the hotel room, [VICTIM #1] was able to walk me through what happened. At this time, Sgt Maine Chambers was speaking to Mercer in the lobby of the hotel, who he initially found passed out in the hallway in front of room [REDACTED], with his pants pulled all the way down. [VICTIM #1] stated that she and Mercer went swimming in the hotel pool around 1830 and 1900 hours. [VICTIM #1] stated that when they got back into the room, Mercer was trying to have sex with her. [VICTIM #1] stated that she told Mercer that they were just friends and that she did not want to have sex. [VICTIM #1] stated that this is when Mercer became enraged. [VICTIM #1] stated that Mercer began to hit her, and when she tried to leave the room to get help, Mercer would assault her again. [VICTIM #1] stated that she attempted to leave the room for help around 6 different times. [VICTIM #1] was unable to call for help using her phone due to it being thrown across the room. It is unclear who threw the phone at this time.

Eventually, [VICTIM #1] was able to exit the hotel room and ask the employee at the front desk to call law enforcement for help. I observed multiple opened mini shots of fireball laying around the room, and two buckets full of mini fireball shots. There was also an empty can of Arrid Extra Dry Antiperspirant on the bathroom counter. The room was in complete disarray; the bed was pulled away from the wall, clothes and a shoe in the bathroom sink, the pillows were on the floor, and there was trash and clothes thrown all around the room. I observed multiple spots of blood on the bedding.

Mercer was placed in cuffs and placed into the back of my patrol car. Mercer was transported to the Baldwin County Law Enforcement Center without incident.

Warrants for Battery, False Imprisonment, Public Drunkenness, and Public Indecency are pending for Mercer.

[End of Narrative]

All information is sourced directly from the official, public court database. Case history is organized and curated by The Georgia Gazette staff. The “What this means:” explanations are written by AI and reviewed by our staff before publishing.

Court records are subject to change at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors or omissions. Nothing here is legal advice. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Case History:

6/1/26

APPEARANCE BOND SET — WILLIAM BERNARD MERCER RELEASED ON BOND

What this means: William Bernard Mercer was released from custody after posting an appearance bond of $4,250.00, with Don Johnson Bonding listed as the security. The bond was signed on June 1, 2026, and requires Mercer to appear in Baldwin County Superior Court on a date to be determined to answer the charges of False Imprisonment, Battery, Public Drunkenness, and Public Indecency (1st or 2nd offense). By signing the bond, Mercer acknowledged he is charged with these offenses and waived his right to a Commitment Hearing. If he fails to appear, the bond can be forfeited.

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6/8/26

STAY AWAY ORDER AND BOND CONDITIONS ISSUED — WILLIAM BERNARD MERCER

What this means: Baldwin County Magistrate Court Chief Magistrate Hon. Shane Geeter issued a Stay Away Order as a condition of William Bernard Mercer’s appearance bond in case number 202600648. The order prohibits Mercer from having any contact — in person, by phone, through a third party, by mail, or through electronic or social media — with a named protected party. Mercer is also barred from coming within 150 feet of the protected party’s residence, school, or workplace. Additional bond conditions include: no new criminal charges while the bond is active, no possession of firearms or weapons, and a requirement that if Mercer needs to retrieve personal property from the protected party’s residence, he must do so through the Sheriff’s Department or Police Department with advance notice. Mercer signed the order acknowledging that any violation could result in immediate revocation of his bond and return to custody.

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6/12/26

DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE — CLAUDIA MITCHAM APPOINTED FOR WILLIAM BERNARD MERCER

What this means: Claudia Mitcham, an Assistant Public Defender with the Georgia Credit Public Defender office in Milledgeville, formally entered her appearance as the attorney representing William Bernard Mercer in Baldwin County Superior Court case number SUWR2026000259. By filing this Entry of Appearance, Mitcham placed the court and the prosecution on notice that she is now Mercer’s counsel. The filing also includes a Non-Waiver of Constitutional and Statutory Rights, meaning Mercer is formally invoking all of his legal rights under federal and state law — including any previously waived rights such as Miranda rights, which are hereby reasserted. A copy was served to the District Attorney at 121 N. Wilkinson St., Ste. 305, Milledgeville, GA 31061.