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Name:
Brown, Cullen Andrew
Date of Booking:
03/20/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Exploitation and intimidation of disabled adults, elder persons, and residents (Felony)
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 Thursday, March 12, 2026, while working my assigned duties as the School Resource Officer for Statham Elementary School I received an email from Mrs. [WITNESS #1] the School Counselor containing a DFACS Referral for [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY].
In this Referral, [WITNESS #1] states she spoke with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] due to her stating in one of her classes that she was suicidal. According to [WITNESS #1], she attempted to contacted [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Father Culen Brown but was unable to reach him. [WITNESS #1] stated she then contacted [VICTIM #1], [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Grandmother and informed her of what had occurred.
[WITNESS #1] stated in the referral that [VICTIM #1] stated “He is going to kill us all”, talking about Cullen. [WITNESS #1] also stated in the referral that [VICTIM #1] told her that Cullen locks the girls in a room and will not let them go outside. She said that she cannot lie he is hitting them all. She said that DFCS has been out before but [REDACTED BY AGENCY] lies to them to take up for her dad. She said, please send help to us. She said he needs help and needs to be on medication, I need someone to help me.
Due to receiving this information after school had already released I was unable to speak with any parties involved. This report is being created to document the event and forward the information to CID for further investigation.
[SECTION REDACTED BY AGENCY]
[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:
3/20/26
CULLEN ANDREW BROWN BOOKED INTO CUSTODY
What this means: Cullen Andrew Brown was booked — meaning formally processed into jail — in Barrow County on March 20, 2026. This is the date the charges against him are alleged to have occurred as well. At this stage, Brown is presumed innocent of all charges.
3/23/26
DEFENSE FILES AMENDED BOND MOTION IN SUPERIOR COURT
What this means: Cullen Andrew Brown’s attorney, Autumn Sanford, filed a formal written request asking the Barrow County Superior Court to set a bond so Brown could be released from jail while his case moves forward. The motion was assigned to Judge Primm. This filing came after a bond had apparently already been denied, which is why the defense was asking the Superior Court to step in and set one.
4/2/26
BOND DENIED — CULLEN ANDREW BROWN ORDERED HELD WITHOUT BOND
What this means: A judge of the Superior Court, Piedmont Judicial Circuit, formally ordered that Cullen Andrew Brown be denied bond. The reason listed on the order is that Brown is considered a “risk to reoffend.” This means Brown remained in custody and could not pay his way out of jail while the case proceeded. The order was filed in open court in Barrow County on April 2, 2026.
4/14/26
GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT — 11 COUNTS FILED AGAINST CULLEN ANDREW BROWN
What this means: A Barrow County grand jury — a group of citizens who reviewed the evidence — agreed there was enough to formally charge Cullen Andrew Brown and returned what is called a “true bill,” meaning the indictment was approved. The indictment was filed in the Superior Court of Barrow County under case number 26-CR-126-P on April 14, 2026, at 5:55 p.m., with Janie J. Jones listed as Clerk of Superior Court and District Attorney J. Bradley Smith signing each count. Brown is accused of the following 11 charges, all allegedly occurring in Barrow County:
Count 1 — Cruelty to Children in the First Degree (O.C.G.A. 16-5-70): Brown is accused of causing a child under 18 cruel and excessive physical and mental pain by striking the child, allegedly occurring between March 1 and March 20, 2026.
Count 2 — Exploitation and Intimidation of an Elder Person (O.C.G.A. 16-5-102(a)): Brown is accused of willfully inflicting mental anguish on a person 65 years of age or older by exhibiting violent behavior in her presence, restricting her from areas of her own home, and damaging her property, allegedly occurring between April 23, 2025, and March 20, 2026.
Count 3 — Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon (O.C.G.A. 16-11-131(b)): Brown is accused of unlawfully possessing a Taurus G5 9mm handgun on or about March 20, 2026. Brown is alleged to have a prior felony conviction for Burglary from Barrow County Superior Court on December 5, 1997 (Indictment No. 97-CR-703-X).
Count 4 — Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon (O.C.G.A. 16-11-131(b)): Brown is accused of unlawfully possessing a Marlin Glenfield Model 75 .22 caliber rifle on or about March 20, 2026, based on the same prior felony conviction.
Count 5 — Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon (O.C.G.A. 16-11-131(b)): Brown is accused of unlawfully possessing a Winchester Model 290 .22 caliber rifle on or about March 20, 2026, based on the same prior felony conviction.
Count 6 — Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon (O.C.G.A. 16-11-131(b)): Brown is accused of unlawfully possessing a Maverick 12G Model 88 shotgun on or about March 20, 2026, based on the same prior felony conviction.
Count 7 — Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon (O.C.G.A. 16-11-131(b)): Brown is accused of unlawfully possessing a High Standard .22 caliber revolver on or about March 20, 2026, based on the same prior felony conviction.
Count 8 — Criminal Trespass (O.C.G.A. 16-7-21(a)): Brown is accused of intentionally damaging a refrigerator shelf and kitchen ceiling, property belonging to another person, without consent, with the damage alleged to be less than $500.00, on or about March 20, 2026.
Count 9 — Obstruction of an Officer (O.C.G.A. 16-10-24(a)): Brown is accused of knowingly and willfully obstructing multiple Barrow County Sheriff’s Office law enforcement officers in the lawful discharge of their duties by refusing to exit an outbuilding as directed, on or about March 20, 2026.
Count 10 — Possession of Marijuana, Less Than an Ounce (O.C.G.A. 16-13-30(j)): Brown is accused of unlawfully possessing less than one ounce of marijuana on or about March 20, 2026.
Count 11 — Possession of Drug Related Objects (O.C.G.A. 16-13-32.2): Brown is accused of unlawfully possessing a glass pipe — an object intended for inhaling marijuana — on or about March 20, 2026.
5/27/26
CULLEN ANDREW BROWN WAIVES ARRAIGNMENT
What this means: Cullen Andrew Brown, through his attorney Autumn Sanford, formally waived his right to an arraignment hearing. Arraignment is the court appearance where a defendant is formally read the charges against them and enters a plea of guilty or not guilty. By waiving it, Brown skipped that hearing — this is common when a defendant and their attorney are already familiar with the charges. The case in Barrow County Superior Court (26-CR-126-P) continues to move forward.
5/27/26
DEFENSE FILES CONSOLIDATED MOTIONS
What this means: Attorney Autumn Sanford filed a set of consolidated pre-trial motions on behalf of Cullen Andrew Brown in Barrow County Superior Court. Consolidated motions bundle multiple legal requests into one filing. These types of filings typically ask the court to rule on evidence, discovery, or other procedural matters before trial.
6/3/26
STATE FILES RESPONSE TO DEFENDANT’S ELECTION TO PROCEED UNDER O.C.G.A. 17-16-1
What this means: The State — represented by District Attorney J. Bradley Smith’s office — filed a formal response after Cullen Andrew Brown elected to proceed under Georgia’s reciprocal discovery statute, O.C.G.A. 17-16-1. This law requires both sides to share evidence with each other before trial. By electing into this process, Brown’s defense triggered an obligation for the State to disclose its evidence — and in turn, the defense must share its evidence with the State as well.
6/11/26
DEFENSE FILES MOTION TO REDUCE BOND — CULLEN ANDREW BROWN
What this means: Attorney Autumn Sanford filed a new bond motion on behalf of Cullen Andrew Brown in Barrow County Superior Court (case 26CR126-P), asking the court to reduce the bond that was previously set or denied by the Superior Court. The motion was filed on June 11, 2026. A hearing date of June 18, 2026, was assigned per Superior Court standing order, with Judge Primm assigned to the case. Brown’s attorney argues that Brown is not a flight risk and poses no risk to witnesses or the community if released on bond.
6/18/26
BOND DENIED AGAIN — CULLEN ANDREW BROWN ORDERED HELD WITHOUT BOND
What this means: Following the June 11 motion to reduce bond, a hearing was held on June 18, 2026, and bond was again denied for Cullen Andrew Brown. The judge’s written order, filed in Barrow County Superior Court on June 22, 2026, states that “the prior finding of risk to reoffend remains the appropriate finding.” Brown remains in custody at the Barrow County Detention Center while case 26-CR-000126-P continues.
7/15/26
CULLEN ANDREW BROWN FILES OPEN RECORDS REQUEST FROM JAIL
What this means: Acting on his own behalf — without his attorney — Cullen Andrew Brown submitted a handwritten Open Records Request to the Barrow County Superior Court Clerk’s office on July 15, 2026. Brown, who is currently held at the Barrow County Detention Center, cited the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70) and requested copies of all transcripts, motions, filings, notices, police reports, warrants, and other documents associated with case number 26-CR-000126-P.
7/16/26
CLERK’S OFFICE RESPONDS TO BROWN’S OPEN RECORDS REQUEST
What this means: Deputy Clerk Liz L. of the Barrow County Clerk of Superior Court responded in writing to Cullen Andrew Brown’s open records request on July 16, 2026. The clerk’s office agreed to provide Brown with a one-time courtesy copy of his entire case file at no charge. The response also noted that no transcript files exist in the case at this time because the case is still pending — meaning no trial or evidentiary hearings have been transcribed yet. Any future records requests from Brown will be charged at 50 cents per page.