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Name:
Gilbert, Westley Aaron
Date of Booking:
08/03/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Cruelty to Animals – 6 Counts
Aggravated Cruelty to Animals
Aggravated Cruelty to Animals
Aggravated Cruelty to Animals
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 August 25, 2025]
August 25,2025, at 1230 hours: Inv. Wyatt responded to Winder Animal Hospital (163 W Athens St) regarding an animal abuse complaint. The complaint is briefly described as a male dog, female dog, and 7 puppies being left abandoned at the residence located at [1200 BLOCK] Finch Road. It was explained by an employee of Barrow County Animal control that the animals were left when the occupants of the residence moved out. The owner of the house later called animal control and reported the animals were left at the home. Animal control subsequently recovered the animals and later took them to the Winder Animal hospital.
While at the Animal hospital the dogs were observed for injuries and ailments. It was clear dogs left unattended and without proper food/nutrition and living conditions. The following observations of the animals’ conditions were made while at the animal hospital: The eldest male dog was clearly in a state of starvation as his skeletal structure such as ribs and hips were clearly visible. The dog’s fur coat had patchy areas and what looked like dirt on it from being infested with fleas. The dog had trouble walking and balancing due to the lack of muscle and proper nutrition. While at the animal hospital the staff was able to confirm the male dog also had an internal worm infestation
The female dog’s fur coat had patchy and/or dirty looking areas from a flea infestation All 7 puppies in the litter had bloated stomachs from internal worm infestations. They also had patchy and/or dirty spots on their fur coats from flea infestation.
The above listed observations were some of the obvious issues with the dogs and puppies at the time they were seen at the animal hospital. The issues of the animals will be revealed in the animal hospital reports. Animal control staff stated they previously received a call from someone wanting to turn over the dogs from the address [1200 BLOCK] Finch Road. The timeline when animal control was contacted and who contacted animal control will be further investigated.
The suspects’ names given by animal control were:
Wesley Gilbert [REDACTED]
Jenny Gilbert [REDACTED]
The investigation into the case is ongoing and will be continued by the Criminal Investigations Division.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on August 03, 2026]
On August 3, 2026, I was assigned Sergeant of B-shift. At approximately 1916 hours, Westley Gilbert came to the lobby to turn himself in. Jail staff searched Westley removing all personnel items. He was placed into a jail cell with no issues.
The warrants for 6 counts of Creulty to animal and 3 counts of Aggravated cruelty to animals. The warrant numbers 2025-2947MW, 2025-2946MW, 2025-2945MW, 2025-2944MW, 2025-2943MW, 2025-2942MW, 2025-2941FW, 2025-2940FW, 2025-2939FW.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #3 on August 03, 2026]
On August 3, 2026, I was assigned Sergeant of B-shift. At approximately 1916 hours, Jenny Gilbert came to the lobby to turn herself in. Jail staff searched Jenny removing all personnel items. She was placed into a jail cell with no issues.
The warrants for 6 counts of Creulty to animal and 3 counts of Aggravated cruelty to animals. The warrant numbers 2025-2930FW, 2025-2931FW, 2025-2932FW, 2025-2933MW, 2025-2934MW, 2025-2935MW, 2025-2936MW, 2025-2937MW, 2025-2938MW,
[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:
There is a listed co-defendant in this case. Please see Jenny Gilbert for additional information.
8/18/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY FILES MOTION TO REDUCE BOND IN BARROW COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
What this means: Attorney Mary Peppers filed a bond motion in the Superior Court of Barrow County on behalf of Westley Aaron Gilbert, asking the court to reduce the bond that had previously been set by a magistrate judge. The motion was assigned to Judge Crawford. In Georgia, a defendant or their attorney can ask a Superior Court judge to revisit a bond amount set at the magistrate level if they believe it is unreasonably high. The motion was hand-delivered to the District Attorney’s office the same day it was filed.
9/4/26
ACCUSATION FILED — 6 COUNTS OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS AGAINST WESTLEY AARON GILBERT
What this means: District Attorney J. Bradley Smith filed a formal accusation — a charging document — against Westley Aaron Gilbert in the Superior Court of Barrow County, Case No. 26-CR-402-C. An accusation is similar to an indictment but does not require a grand jury; it is filed directly by the prosecutor. All six counts stem from an alleged incident on or about August 22, 2025, in Barrow County.
Count 1 accuses Westley Aaron Gilbert of cruelty to animals under O.C.G.A. § 16-12-4(b), specifically by allegedly deserting and not feeding a pitbull, causing the animal to suffer.
Count 2 accuses the defendant of cruelty to animals by allegedly deserting and not feeding a pitbull mix puppy, causing it to suffer.
Count 3 accuses Westley Aaron Gilbert of cruelty to animals involving a pitbull mix puppy distinct from the one in Count 2, also by allegedly deserting and not feeding the animal.
Count 4 accuses the defendant of cruelty to animals involving yet another pitbull mix puppy distinct from those in prior counts, by the same alleged conduct of deserting and not feeding.
Count 5 accuses Westley Aaron Gilbert of cruelty to animals involving a pitbull mix puppy distinct from those in prior counts, by allegedly deserting and not feeding the animal.
Count 6 accuses the defendant of cruelty to animals involving a sixth pitbull mix puppy, distinct from all others, by the same alleged conduct.
9/4/26
WESTLEY AARON GILBERT PLEADS GUILTY TO ALL 6 COUNTS OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
What this means: On September 4, 2026, Westley Aaron Gilbert signed a formal plea statement in the Superior Court of Barrow County, entering a guilty plea to all six counts of Cruelty to Animals under O.C.G.A. § 16-12-4(b), Case No. 26-CR-402-C. By pleading guilty, Gilbert gave up his right to a jury trial, his right to confront witnesses, and his right against self-incrimination. The plea was negotiated, meaning the defense and prosecution reached an agreement. Gilbert’s attorney at the time of the plea was Elizabeth Hutto. The plea statement reflects that Gilbert indicated he did not wish to be sentenced as a first offender. The deadline to file a motion to withdraw the guilty plea was noted as January 29, 2027.
9/4/26
JUDGE ISSUES ORDER CLARIFYING STATUS OF WARRANTS — WESTLEY AARON GILBERT NOT TO BE FURTHER CONFINED ON COVERED WARRANTS
What this means: Judge Andrew Crawford signed an Order Clarifying Status of Warrants/Citations in the Superior Court of Barrow County on September 4, 2026, in connection with Case No. 26-CR-402-C and warrant/citation numbers 2025-2939-2947 (26PI481). The order states that the warrants listed were the subject of a plea, dismissal, or plea negotiation involving other charges and will not be the subject of further prosecution. The court checked that the warrants are not a basis for further confinement of Westley Aaron Gilbert — barring any other holds. This means that as of the sentencing date, Gilbert was not to remain jailed solely on the basis of those warrants.
9/4/26
WESTLEY AARON GILBERT SENTENCED TO 72 MONTHS PROBATION ON 6 COUNTS OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
What this means: Judge Andrew Crawford of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit sentenced Westley Aaron Gilbert in the Superior Court of Barrow County following his guilty plea to six felony counts of Cruelty to Animals, Case No. 26-CR-402-C. The plea was negotiated. Gilbert was represented by attorney Mary Rachel Peppers.
The sentence on each count was 12 months probation. The counts run consecutively — meaning one after another, not at the same time — for a total sentence of 72 months (6 years) of probation. A $500 fine plus surcharges was assessed on Count 1; no additional fines were imposed on Counts 2 through 6.
As part of the sentence, Westley Aaron Gilbert is subject to standard general conditions of probation, including obeying all laws, reporting to a Community Supervision Officer, not leaving Georgia without permission, and maintaining employment where possible.
Special conditions of probation checked and imposed by the court include: a Fourth Amendment waiver (meaning Gilbert consents to searches of his person, home, vehicle, and belongings at any time without a warrant if a supervision officer has reasonable cause to believe he is violating probation or the law); a curfew to be set by the Community Supervision Officer; a bar order prohibiting Gilbert from entering the Piedmont Judicial Circuit during the probation period; a records release allowing the Community Supervision Office access to his medical, clinical, treatment, and criminal history records; and a requirement to report to the Community Supervision Office.
An additional handwritten special condition was imposed: Westley Aaron Gilbert is prohibited from possessing any dogs for the duration of his probation.