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Name:
Luquin-Acosta, Jose J
Date of Booking:
06/09/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (less safe)
Consumption/Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in Passenger Area
Improper Lane Change/Failure to Maintain Lane
Hit and Run; Duty of Driver to Stop or Return to Scene of Accident
Following Too Closely
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.]
[NARRATIVE #1 on June 08, 2026]
On June 8, 2026, at approximately 2145 hours, I was doing an area check at 385 Pleasant Hill Church Rd NE (Stoney Creek Methodist Church). While I was in the parking lot, I observed a black sedan heading North on Pleasant Hill Church Rd NE, approaching the intersection of HWY 211 NE. The car rapidly approached the stop sign and came to a hard stop.
I then went to pull out of the parking lot of the church to try to run the tag number on the vehicle, and when I turned south on Pleasant Hill Church Rd, I heard a loud crash coming from East on HWY 211 NE. I then looked to the left and noticed a large cloud of smoke and taillights in the ditch. I then told dispatch that I was out with a traffic accident via the radio on HWY 211 NE and Pleasant Hill Church Rd NE.
While I was exiting my patrol vehicle, I observed a Hispanic male exit the driver’s seat of a black Chrysler 300 bearing Georgia tag [REDACTED] and walk to the rear of the vehicle. I then noticed that the male was stumbling around while walking, and I asked the male, later identified as Jose Luquin-Acosta, if he had been drinking. Jose then stated that he had 6-7 beers. When I got closer to Jose, I could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage and noticed his eyes were glassy, which is often a sign of intoxication.
Jose had sustained an injury to his bottom lip from the crash, so I had a med unit come out to check on him and possibly give him treatment. The med unit arrived, and Jose refused treatment for his injuries. After the med unit finished with Jose, I advised him that he was going to be placed under arrest for DUI less safe.
I then placed Jose in handcuffs, which were checked for fit and double locked. After placing Jose under arrest, I read Georgia’s Implied Consent and asked for the state-administered test of his blood. Jose then refused the state-administered test. I then searched and placed Jose in the back of my patrol car, where he was secured with a seatbelt.
After I went to his vehicle and noticed an open container of beer in the passenger area with a full can in a black grocery bag, which was more probable cause that Jose had been drinking and driving, I then finished my search of the vehicle, and Mike’s Auto Repair removed the vehicle from the scene without incident.
I then transported Jose to the Barrow County Detention Center, and the jail staff refused him due to the injury on his lip. Jose was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical in Winder and treated for his injury. After being treated and discharged from the hospital, I placed Jose in the back of my patrol car and transported him back to the Barrow County Detention Center, where he was turned over to jail staff.
I then presented Jose with his copy of a DDS 1205 form, due to his refusal to submit to a state-administered test of his blood. Jose was issued citations for failing to maintain lane, open container, and DUI less safe.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on June 08, 2026]
V1 was traveling East on Hwy 211 NE after turning right from Pleasant Hill Church Rd NE when it failed to maintain its vehicle and left the roadway, causing it to wreck in a ditch.
D1 stated that they did not know how they ended up crashing into the ditch, but they had consumed about 6-7 beers. D1 had a visible injury to their bottom lip and refused treatment from med unit 9 on scene.
V1 sustained disabling damage and was towed by Mike’s Auto Repair. D1 was arrested and issued citations for failing to maintain lane, open container in the passenger area, and DUI less safe.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #3 on June 08, 2026]
On June 8, 2026, at approximately 2145 hours, while I was working a traffic accident, I was flagged down by a man later identified as [VICTIM #1], who stated that the driver of the current accident had hit his Honda Odyssey bearing Georgia tag [REDACTED] from behind and had driven off.
I then began to question Jose Luiquin-Acosta, who was the driver of a black Chrysler 300 bearing Georgia tag [REDACTED], if he had been in an accident before this one. He stated that he had, and that the vehicle in front of him stopped in the road out of nowhere, and he had hit it. I then began to ask Jose why he did not stay at the scene of the first accident, and he would not answer other than that he didn’t try to run away from the scene.
With the visible damage to the rear of [VICTIM #1]’s vehicle, I developed enough probable cause to write Jose a citation for following too close and hit and run. Reference case #2026-00035448 for more information. [VICTIM #1] had no complaints of injuries and was given a contact card with the case number on it.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #4 on June 08, 2026]
V1 was traveling North on Pleasant Hill Church Rd NE, approaching Segars Rd, while V2 was attempting to turn left into their driveway. V1 then rear-ended V2 because it was following too closely. After hitting V2, V1 fled the scene and continued driving North on Pleasant Hill Church Rd NE.
D1 stated that V2 stopped out of nowhere and did not signal, and that was why he rear-ended them. D1 stated that he did not stay at the scene of the accident but did not run from it.
D2 stated that they were about to turn left into their driveway when V1 came up fast and rear-ended their vehicle. D2 stated that V1 fled the scene to try to get away after hitting them.
Both vehicles sustained functional damage, and D1 had no complaints of injuries. D1 was given a contact card with the case number on it. No complaints of injuries were made at this time.
[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:
7/9/26
ACCUSATION FILED — 5 COUNTS AGAINST JOSE J LUQUIN-ACOSTA
What this means: The State Court of Barrow County formally charged Jose J Luquin-Acosta with five offenses stemming from an incident on June 8, 2026, on Georgia Highway 211 and Pleasant Hill Church Road. Chief Assistant Solicitor-General Kristen L. Murphy filed the accusation, which was entered into the court record on July 9, 2026, under Case No. 26-ST-00689.
Count 1 accuses Jose J Luquin-Acosta of Driving Under the Influence (Less Safe) — Alcohol, under O.C.G.A. 40-6-391(a)(1), alleging he operated a motor vehicle on Georgia Highway 211 while under the influence of alcohol to the extent it was less safe for him to drive.
Count 2 accuses Jose J Luquin-Acosta of Hit and Run, under O.C.G.A. 40-6-270, alleging that after being involved in an accident that caused damage to another vehicle on Pleasant Hill Church Road, he knowingly failed to stop his vehicle as close to the scene as possible and remain there as required by law.
Count 3 accuses Jose J Luquin-Acosta of Open Container, under O.C.G.A. 40-6-253, alleging he unlawfully possessed an open alcoholic beverage container in the passenger area of his vehicle while operating it on Georgia Highway 211.
Count 4 accuses Jose J Luquin-Acosta of Failure to Maintain Lane, under O.C.G.A. 40-6-48, alleging he failed to keep his vehicle within a single clearly marked traffic lane on Georgia Highway 211 without first ensuring the movement could be made safely.
Count 5 accuses Jose J Luquin-Acosta of Following Too Closely, under O.C.G.A. 40-6-49, alleging he approached another vehicle from the rear on Pleasant Hill Church Road while that vehicle had stopped to make a lawful turn.
An accusation is a formal charging document filed by the prosecutor’s office — in this case without a grand jury — that officially puts the charges on record and requires the defendant to respond in court.
7/31/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE FOR JOSE J LUQUIN-ACOSTA
What this means: Attorney Jacqueline M. Piland of Kaye & Piland, LLP, located at 258 N. Broad Street in Winder, Georgia, filed a Notice of Entry of Appearance in the State Court of Barrow County on July 31, 2026, formally notifying the court that she has been retained to represent Jose J Luquin-Acosta in Case No. 26-ST-00689. This means all future court communications and filings related to this case are to be directed to Attorney Piland.
7/31/26
JOSE J LUQUIN-ACOSTA PLEADS GUILTY — SENTENCED TO 24 MONTHS WITH 10 DAYS TO SERVE
What this means: On July 31, 2026, Jose J Luquin-Acosta entered a negotiated guilty plea in the State Court of Barrow County in Case No. 26-ST-00689. The court accepted the plea and imposed a final sentence across the resolved counts. At the same time, three of the five original charges were dropped by the prosecution through a process called nolle prosequi — meaning the state chose not to pursue those counts further.
Count 1 — Driving Under the Influence (Less Safe) (Alcohol), O.C.G.A. 40-6-391(a)(1): Jose J Luquin-Acosta was found guilty and sentenced to 12 months, with 10 days to be served in confinement. A fine of $1,886 was imposed.
Count 2 — Hit and Run, O.C.G.A. 40-6-270: Jose J Luquin-Acosta was found guilty and sentenced to 12 months, consecutive to Count 1, meaning this sentence begins after the Count 1 sentence is completed. A fine of $300 was imposed. This count runs consecutive to Count 1.
Count 3 — Open Container, O.C.G.A. 40-6-253: Nolle prossed. This charge was dismissed by the prosecution and will not be pursued.
Count 4 — Failure to Maintain Lane, O.C.G.A. 40-6-48: Nolle prossed. This charge was dismissed by the prosecution and will not be pursued.
Count 5 — Following Too Closely, O.C.G.A. 40-6-49: Nolle prossed. This charge was dismissed by the prosecution and will not be pursued.
The total sentence is 24 months, with the first 10 days to be served in confinement. Jose J Luquin-Acosta is credited for time already served in custody from July 21 through July 31, 2026. Upon serving the 10 days, the remainder of the sentence is to be served on probation, subject to the conditions of probation imposed by the court. Total fines assessed are $2,186.