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Name:
Munoz-Guevara, Juan
Date of Booking:
03/07/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Failure To Obey Stop Sign or Yield After Stopping
Hit and Run; Duty of Driver to Stop or Return to Scene of Accident
Driving without a Valid License (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 March 7th, 2026, at approximately 1640 hours I was dispatched to an accident with injuries at the intersection of Carl-Bethlehem Road and Bill Rutledge Road. I responded code 3 (emergency lights and sirens).
Once I arrived at the scene of the accident, I made contact with one of the parties that were involved. While I was investigating the motor vehicle accident I was advised by the driver that the other party left the scene. The driver told dispatch the description of the vehicle before they fled the scene. While I was gathering the driver and passenger information, Deputy Brito (S-136) advised that he stop the vehicle that fled at Bill Rutledge and Mathew School Road.
A witness who saw the accident occurred came back to the scene and gave me a statement. The witness is identified as [WITNESS #1]. I spoke to [WITNESS #1] and he stated that he was at the intersection of Bill Rutledge and Carl-Bethlehem Road going east. [WITNESS #1] stated that the van that was on Carl-Bethlehem Road going north did not stop at the stop sign and hit the other party on the front driver’s side. The suspect then backed up and then got onto Bill Rutledge Road going east. [WITNESS #1] then proceeded to follow the suspect van to get a license plate but couldn’t catch up. [WITNESS #1] then returned to the scene of the accident.
I spoke to the party that was involved in the accident they said the same thing that [WITNESS #1] stated. Deputy Brito and Sgt Meeler (S-61) investigated and spoke with the suspect on what occurred with the motor vehicle accident. The suspect who fled the scene is identified as Juan Munoz- Guevara. Deputy Brito advised me that there is a language barrier between them two, so they had to speak to Juan through an interpreter. Juan told Deputy Brito and Sgt Meeler that he left the scene because he didn’t have a driver’s license and he was scared. Juan also told them that the other party didn’t stop at the stop sign. While investigating the motor vehicle accident and getting a statement from a witness I had enough probable cause to take Juan into custody.
While I was still on the scene of the accident, Sgt Meeler took Juan into custody and transported him to Northeast Georgia Barrow Hospital to get him cleared before taking him to the detention center. Once I finish with my duties at the scene of the accident, I met with Deputy Brito and took possession of Juan passport gathered information of the passenger who was with Juan. The individual was identified as [REDACTED]. Juan vehicle was towed by Hammonds Towing. I then head over to the Barrow County Detention Center to drop off the citations for Juan after he got cleared from the hospital.
Juan Munoz-Guevara was cited and arrested for:
Hit and run; duty of driver to stop at or return to the scene of the accident (OCGA 40-6-270): Juan fled the scene of the motor vehicle accident and failed to return to the scene of the accident.
Driving without a valid license (OCGA 40-5-20): Juan Munoz-Guevara advised that he did not have a drivers license and that is why he fled the scene of the accident. I ran Juan name through GCIC/NCIC and it was confirmed that he did not have a valid license.
Stopping and Yielding (OCGA 40-6-72): Juan did not stop at the stop sign that is located at the intersection.
The witness statement form is attached to the report and turned in at the Barrow County Sheriffs Office.
[End of Narrative]
The information below reflects all details available at the time of publication and was obtained directly from the official court database accessible to the public. Court records are subject to change at any time at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors, omissions, or discrepancies within the docket. No information provided should be construed as legal advice or opinion. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
3/7/26
JUAN MUNOZ-GUEVARA BOOKED INTO CUSTODY
What this means: Juan Munoz-Guevara was booked — meaning formally processed into the system — in Barrow County on March 7, 2026, in connection with allegations involving driving without a valid license, hit and run, and failure to obey a stop sign or yield after stopping. This is the starting point of the case in the Barrow County court system.
3/8/26
APPEARANCE BOND SET
What this means: On March 8, 2026, Juan Munoz-Guevara and a bail bonding company — Anytime Bail Bonds-Lawrenceville — entered into a $3,750.00 bond agreement with the State of Georgia. This meant Juan Munoz-Guevara was released from custody on the condition that he appear in the Barrow County State Court as required. The bonding company agreed to be responsible for ensuring his appearance.
4/15/26
ACCUSATION FILED IN BARROW COUNTY STATE COURT
What this means: On April 15, 2026, Solicitor-General Kyle Thompson formally filed an accusation — a written charging document — against Juan Munoz-Guevara in the State Court of Barrow County. The accusation contains two counts: Count 1 charges Juan Munoz-Guevara with Driving Without a License under O.C.G.A. 40-5-20, and Count 2 charges him with Hit and Run under O.C.G.A. 40-6-270. The document was filed with the Clerk of State Court, Janie J. Jones. This is the official start of the formal criminal case against Juan Munoz-Guevara in Case No. 26-ST-00411.
4/17/26
BOND FORFEITURE ORDER SIGNED
What this means: On April 17, 2026, the Chief Judge of the Barrow County State Court signed an order forfeiting — meaning canceling and seizing — the $3,750.00 appearance bond posted by Juan Munoz-Guevara and Anytime Bail Bonds-Lawrenceville. This happened because Juan Munoz-Guevara failed to appear in court as required by law, and the bonding company also failed to produce him. The order also requires the bonding company to appear before the court at 652 Barrow Park Drive, Winder, GA 30680 on September 18, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. to explain why a final judgment should not be entered against them for the full bond amount. The order was also signed by Assistant Solicitor General Kristi L. Murphy.
4/21/26
BENCH WARRANT ISSUED
What this means: On April 21, 2026, a bench warrant was issued for Juan Munoz-Guevara in Case No. 26-ST-00411. A bench warrant is a court order authorizing law enforcement to arrest a person — in this case, because Juan Munoz-Guevara failed to appear in court as required. This means Juan Munoz-Guevara can be taken into custody at any time until the warrant is resolved.