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Name:
Crawford, James Burton
Date of Booking:
04/23/2025
Reason(s) For Booking:
Unlawful Eavesdropping or Surveillance – 40 Counts
Article:
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:
4/29/25
BOND ($50,000)
What this means: The court set bond at $50,000. The defendant could be released from custody once this amount was paid or secured, as long as all court dates are attended and any bond conditions are followed.
10/22/25
DEFENSE ENTRY OF APPEARANCE SHANE MCKEEN
What this means: On this date, attorney Shane McKeen officially filed paperwork stating he represents the defendant. From that point forward, he would receive court notices and handle the case on the defendant’s behalf.
1/14/26
INDICTMENT
What this means: A grand jury formally charged the defendant with a crime. An indictment is used in more serious cases and officially moves the case forward in a higher court.
1/29/26
DEFENSE WAIVER OF ARRAIGNMENT
What this means: The defendant chose not to attend the formal arraignment hearing. By filing this waiver, the defendant acknowledges the charges in writing and enters a plea without appearing in court for that hearing.
1/29/26
DEFENSE REQUEST FOR DISCOVERY – DISCOVERY MOTION
What this means: The defense formally asked the prosecutor to provide all evidence related to the case. This includes reports, witness statements, recordings, and any materials the state plans to use in court.
1/29/26
DEFENSE MOTION TO WITHDRAW – PRELIMINARY MOTION TO SUPPRESS
What this means: The defense withdrew a previous request to exclude certain evidence from being used in court. This means the motion to suppress will not move forward at that time.
2/16/26
ARRAIGNMENT @ 9:01 AM
What this means: The defendant is scheduled to appear in court at 9:01 AM to be formally advised of the charges and enter a plea. This is an important step in the criminal process unless it has already been properly waived.
2/18/26
STATE DISCLOSURE CERTIFICATE AND NOTICES
What this means: The prosecutor filed paperwork confirming that required evidence and legal notices were provided to the defense. This shows the state is complying with discovery rules.
4/15/26
NOTICE OF OTHER ACT EVIDENCE FILED
What this means: Assistant District Attorney Alan D. Smith filed a notice in the Bartow County Superior Court informing James Burton Crawford, Jr. that the State intends to introduce evidence of a prior conviction at trial. The State says it plans to use this prior conviction not to attack Crawford’s character, but to help prove intent and absence of mistake in the current case. The filing was made under case number SUCR2026000147 and requests that the court hold a separate hearing to decide whether this evidence will be allowed at trial.
4/21/26
CONTINUANCE AND SCHEDULING ORDER ENTERED IN JAMES BURTON CRAWFORD CASE
What this means: The Superior Court of Bartow County entered a continuance and scheduling order in the case against James Burton Crawford. A continuance means the case timeline was extended — pushing proceedings further out — and the scheduling order sets the framework for upcoming deadlines and court dates.
4/27/26
CALENDAR CALL SCHEDULED
What this means: The Bartow County court has scheduled a calendar call for James Burton Crawford on April 27, 2026, at 1:15 PM. A calendar call is a court hearing where the judge and attorneys discuss the status of the case, schedule future proceedings, and address any pending motions. Crawford is facing 40 counts of unlawful eavesdropping or surveillance in case SUW2025001118.
5/8/26
DEFENSE FILES PARTICULARIZED MOTION TO SUPPRESS IN JAMES BURTON CRAWFORD CASE
What this means: Attorney Shane R. McKeen filed a more detailed, particularized Motion to Suppress on behalf of James Burton Crawford on May 8, 2026. This follows the preliminary motion filed in January, in which the defense indicated it would provide a more specific version once it had received full discovery from the state. A particularized motion lays out the specific evidence the defense wants excluded and the specific legal reasons why, giving the court a concrete basis to rule on the suppression request.
6/15/26
CALENDAR CALL SCHEDULED FOR JAMES BURTON CRAWFORD CASE
What this means: A calendar call was scheduled for June 15, 2026, at 1:15 PM in the Superior Court of Bartow County. This is a routine court check-in where the judge confirms the status of the case and coordinates next steps with both sides.
6/29/26
MOTIONS HEARING SCHEDULED IN JAMES BURTON CRAWFORD CASE
What this means: A motions hearing has been scheduled for June 29, 2026, at 9:00 AM in the Superior Court of Bartow County. This hearing will likely address pending motions in the case — including the defense’s particularized Motion to Suppress filed on May 8, 2026. At a motions hearing, both sides present arguments and the judge rules on whether the contested evidence or legal issues will be allowed to proceed.
8/3/26
COURT RULES ON MOTION TO SUPPRESS IN JAMES BURTON CRAWFORD CASE
What this means: The Superior Court of Bartow County issued an order ruling on the Motion to Suppress filed by James Burton Crawford’s defense attorney Shane R. McKeen on May 8, 2026. The order determines whether certain evidence that the defense claimed was illegally obtained will be allowed in the case or excluded from trial. The specific details of the ruling — what evidence was suppressed or allowed — are contained in the court’s order.
8/31/26
CALENDAR CALL SCHEDULED FOR JAMES BURTON CRAWFORD CASE
What this means: A calendar call has been scheduled for August 31, 2026, at 1:15 PM in the Superior Court of Bartow County. This is a routine court appearance where the judge checks the status of the case against James Burton Crawford and confirms whether the parties are ready to move forward.