Get notified by email when this case is updated.
The Georgia Gazette is actively monitoring this case. Check back for the latest updates as more information becomes available.
Name:
Brunson, Jake Wayne
Date of Booking:
03/18/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Cruelty to Child-Cause Excessive Physical/Mental Pain-1st Degree
Criminal Trespass-Interfere with Property
Criminal Trespass-Damage to property (Private)
Battery- Family Violence (1st offense) MISD
Battery- Family Violence (1st offense) MISD
Simple Assault- Family Violence
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 03/18/2026 I, Deputy Puckett, was dispatched to the [500 BLOCK] building of Rosewood Ln in reference to a possible domestic altercation.
As I arrived in front of the building I observed (victim) [VICTIM #1] and (victim/juvenile) [REDACTED BY AGENCY] walking away from the building toward the parking lot. I immediately observed [VICTIM #1] was visibly upset and both parties were carrying what appeared to be their belongings.
As I approached [VICTIM #1] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] I observed visible injuries to both. [VICTIM #1] had redness on the left side of her face and neck. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had bruising and swelling to his right eye. I also observed [VICTIM #1] to have blood on her arms. It was quickly determined the injuries were caused by (suspect) Jake Brunson. [VICTIM #1] further advised the blood on her person was from Jake as well. [VICTIM #1] advised Jake was bleeding from a cut one of his thumbs that was as result of his damaging property within the residence.
While speaking with [VICTIM #1] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY], Jake was observed emerging from within the residence. Other Deputie(s) on scene were able to make contact with and speak to Jake.
[VICTIM #1] advised the altercation began as result of her losing her job. [VICTIM #1] said the verbal argument had been happening “all day”. Things began to escalate when Jake was attempting to force her and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to leave the residence while she was cooking dinner. The escalated portion of the argument occurred for approximately 20 minutes per [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. During the altercation, Jake began throwing and damaging things throughout the residence. [VICTIM #1] was attempting to get away from Jake to avoid further escalation. [VICTIM #1] advised she even attempted to put on headphones at one point to further distance herself from the argument. [VICTIM #1] advised she took these steps out of fear that the altercation was going to turn physical due to having been physically attacked by Jake approximately 3-4 times in the past. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised he could hear [VICTIM #1] crying during the argument.
At some point during the argument, Jake and [VICTIM #1] ended up in the hallway just outside of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] bedroom. At some point during the argument [REDACTED BY AGENCY] heard Jake make a comment of “I’m going to kill”. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was unable to recall if Jake was threatening himself or [VICTIM #1]. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] exited his bedroom to observe Jake’s being “in her [VICTIM #1] face”. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised he feared for [VICTIM #1]’s safety due to the escalation of the current situation and his knowledge of past incidents. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] made the decision to intervene on [VICTIM #1]’s behalf. A physical altercation began and continued down the hallway and into the living room. Both [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and Jake were striking each other on or about the head and face.
[VICTIM #1] observed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] being struck in the face with a closed fist by Jake. Seeing this, [VICTIM #1] began striking Jake while trying to separate the males. Jake, in return, struck [VICTIM #1] in the face with a closed fist an unknown number of times.
Once the physical altercation was finished, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [VICTIM #1] gathered the belongings they were already packing and began to leave the residence. As they were leaving, Jake was heard making the comment he was going to contact 911 and advised he was attacked. This comment was made while Jake was purposefully spraying blood from his thumb throughout the apartment. Jake would not allow [VICTIM #1] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to leave with their key to the house of phones and locked the door behind them to prevent them returning inside.
Jake’s version was simply that “they ([VICTIM #1] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY]) jumped me”. Jake claimed he was the victim of the incident.
Evidence photos were taken throughout the apartment. In the photos there is blood throughout the living space, objects removed from the walls and destroyed, clothes strewn about the floor, broken glass strewn about the floor, and a completely destroyed fan.
Jake was transported to Piedmont Medical Center for treatment in regards to his thumb and then to the Bartow County Jail by Deputy Coker.
Jake was charged Simple Assault-FVA for placing [VICTIM #1] in fear of receiving bodily harm.
Jake was charged Battery-FVA for the visible injuries to both [VICTIM #1] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY].
Jake was charged Cruelty to Children 1st Degree-FVA for the injuries to [REDACTED BY AGENCY].
Jake was charged Criminal Trespass-Damage to property-FVA for the property he damaged/destroyed throughout the residence.
Jake was charged Criminal Trespass- interference with property-FVA for locking [VICTIM #1] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] out of the residence after preventing them from leaving with their phones or keys.
[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:
3/18/26
JAKE WAYNE BRUNSON ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO BARTOW COUNTY JAIL
What this means: Jake Wayne Brunson was booked into the Bartow County Jail on this date. He is accused of six offenses: Simple Assault (Family Violence), two counts of Battery (Family Violence), Battery, Criminal Trespass (interfering with property), Criminal Trespass (damage to private property), and Cruelty to Children in the First Degree. No charges had been formally filed by a grand jury at this point — this reflects the arrest charges only.
3/20/26
DEFENSE FILES MOTION FOR BOND — JAKE WAYNE BRUNSON
What this means: Jake Wayne Brunson’s attorney, from the Cherokee Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s office in Cartersville, filed a formal request asking the court to set a bond so Brunson could be released from the Bartow County Jail while his case is pending. The motion noted that no bond had been set at that time, and that Brunson poses no significant risk of intimidating witnesses or obstructing the case. The defense asked the court to schedule a hearing on the matter as soon as possible.
3/20/26
COURT ISSUES RULE NISI — BOND HEARING SCHEDULED FOR 3/31/26
What this means: A judge at the Bartow County Superior Court responded to the defense’s bond motion by issuing a Rule Nisi — a court order directing all parties to appear and show cause at a scheduled hearing. The hearing was set for March 31, 2026, at the Bartow County Courthouse, Courtroom D, to address whether bond should be granted for Jake Wayne Brunson.
3/31/26
BOND SET FOR JAKE WAYNE BRUNSON — CONDITIONS OF RELEASE ORDERED
What this means: Following the bond hearing, a judge in the Bartow Superior Court issued an order setting bond for Jake Wayne Brunson at $15,000. The order was signed by Judge D. Scott Smith of the Superior Court, Cherokee Judicial Circuit. As conditions of his release, Brunson is required to: (1) not violate the criminal laws of any governmental unit (2) not leave the state of Georgia without permission (3) appear in court as directed by the court and (4) have no contact with victims. The order also noted that if Brunson violates any of these conditions, the court reserves the right to revoke the bond. Additionally, Brunson is not to leave the State of Georgia without court permission, is not to violate any criminal law, and is to appear in court as directed.
4/28/26
PLEA HEARING SCHEDULED — JAKE WAYNE BRUNSON
What this means: According to a note from the Public Defender’s office, a plea hearing for Jake Wayne Brunson was scheduled for April 28, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Bartow Superior Court under case number SUCR2026000788. This indicates the case may have been moving toward a potential resolution at that time.
5/5/26
FORMAL ACCUSATION FILED AGAINST JAKE WAYNE BRUNSON — 6 COUNTS
What this means: The Bartow County District Attorney’s office formally filed a written accusation — a charging document used in Superior Court — against Jake Wayne Brunson during the May Term, 2026. This document officially charges Brunson with the following six counts:
Count 1: Simple Assault, Family Violence, under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-20(b)
Count 2: Battery, Family Violence, under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-23.1(f)
Count 3: Battery, Family Violence, under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-23.1(f)
Count 4: Battery, under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-23.1(c)
Count 5: Criminal Trespass, under O.C.G.A. § 16-7-21(a)
Count 6: Criminal Trespass, under O.C.G.A. § 16-7-21(a)
The case is assigned case number SUCR2026000788 in Bartow Superior Court. Brunson has not been convicted of any of these charges — he is accused of each count listed above.
5/12/26
CRUELTY TO CHILDREN CHARGE DISMISSED AND TRANSFERRED — PLEA HEARING RESET
What this means: On May 12, 2026, the Cruelty to Children (First Degree) charge against Jake Wayne Brunson, which had been carried under a separate case number (SUD2026000379) originating from the March 18, 2026 arrest, was dismissed and transferred. This charge does not appear in the formal accusation filed on May 5, 2026, under SUCR2026000788, which is consistent with it having been handled separately. Additionally, the plea hearing that had been scheduled for April 28, 2026 was reset to May 12, 2026 at 9:00 AM in Bartow Superior Court.
5/12/26
JAKE WAYNE BRUNSON PLEADS GUILTY — SENTENCED TO FELONY WITH PROBATION
What this means: On May 12, 2026, Jake Wayne Brunson appeared in Bartow Superior Court under case number SUCR2026000788 and entered negotiated guilty pleas to all charges filed against him in this case. Judge presiding over the case accepted the pleas and entered the following judgment:
Count 1 (Simple Assault, Family Violence): Guilty — 12 months, $500 fine
Count 2 (Battery, Family Violence): Guilty — 12 months, consecutive to Count 1
Count 3 (Battery, Family Violence): Guilty — 12 months, consecutive to Count 2
Count 4 (Criminal Trespass): Guilty — 12 months, consecutive to Count 3
Count 5 (Battery, Family Violence): Guilty — 12 months, concurrent to Count 4
The court sentenced Brunson to a total of 48 months, with the first 30 days to be served in confinement and the remainder to be served on probation. Brunson is to receive credit for time already served in custody beginning March 18, 2026. The sentence is classified as a Felony with Probation. The pleas were negotiated, meaning the defense and prosecution reached an agreement on the terms prior to the hearing. Brunson will be required to comply with probation conditions as outlined by the court.