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Name:
Martin, Ricardo Jamal
Date of Booking:
01/29/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
BURGLARY
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
TERRORISTIC THREATS AND ACTS
FALSE IMPRISONMENT
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 Thursday, January 29th, 2026, at 1413 hours, I (Corporal A. Walker #2329) responded to [3800 BLOCK] Riverside Drive (Novus on Riverside), Macon, Georgia 31210 in reference to robbery.
Upon arrival, I initially responded to 103 Riverside Pkwy (Fried Green Tomatoes), Macon, Georgia 31210, attempting to locate the victim, who was identified as [VICTIM #1]’s cell phone due to it pinging at that location. I walked inside, attempting to locate the suspect and cell phone, but no contact was made at that moment.
Shortly after, other responding deputies advised that they had a visual on the suspect, who was walking down Riverside Drive near Arby’s. Myself and the other responding deputies and I exited our marked patrol vehicles and immediately drew our service weapons and approached the suspect who fit the description.
I approached the suspect, who was later identified as Ricardo Martin, and gave him the verbal command to get down on the ground and not move. Martin stated out loud what I did and what I did while continuing to walk away from me. I told Martin to stop moving and get on the ground, but he still refused.
At this point, (Deputy Porter) tackled Martin to the ground, and a brief scuffle ensued. Martin was detained, the handcuffs were checked for fit and double locked before sitting him on the curb so I could thoroughly search him before placing him in the backseat of my marked patrol car. I asked Martin if he had anything on him that could stick, poke, or stab me, and he refused to answer. While searching Martin, he was visibly nervous and kept trying to put his hands in his waistband.
I grabbed his right wrist, and he tensed up, and after reaching inside his pants, I removed the firearm that he was concealing. Martin was then placed inside the backseat of my marked patrol car. After gathering the bookbag full of items that Martin had and securing the firearm, I went back to the original incident location.
Upon arrival, I went to apartment [REDACTED] and spoke with the complainant, who was identified as [VICTIM #1]. [VICTIM #1] stated that he went to let his dog out, and after coming back in the house, he went upstairs and was getting ready to take a shower when Martin approached him, pointing a gun at him and told him that he better not move or leave his room or he would shoot him.
[VICTIM #1] stated that Martin reached down and grabbed his bookbag that was beside his bed that had his game system, controller, and headphones inside of it, and he also took his Iphone 17 and walked out of the room while stating to [VICTIM #1] again that if he left the room, he would shoot him.
[VICTIM #1] stated that Martin went to his sister’s room and searched around, but did not take anything that he was aware of before leaving the apartment on foot, heading in an unknown direction. [VICTIM #1] stated that after the incident, he went to a neighbor’s house, and that was when he called the police.
After getting [VICTIM #1]’s statement, Martin was placed under arrest and transported without incident to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Center, where he was turned over to the jail staff for booking. The firearm was placed into evidence at the crime lab, and [VICTIM #1]’s bookbag with the items was given back to him. I was unable to locate [VICTIM #1]’s phone at this time. [VICTIM #1] was given the victim’s case pamphlet.
After the incident I was notified by Investigator Shockley that [VICTIM #1]’s phone was not taken and was found under his dresser in his bedroom.
Warrants to be taken.
[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:
1/29/26
RICARDO JAMAL MARTIN ARRESTED AND CHARGED
What this means: Ricardo Jamal Martin was arrested on January 29, 2026, in Bibb County and charged with Burglary, Aggravated Assault, Terroristic Threats, False Imprisonment, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime, and Armed Robbery. Martin has remained in jail since the date of his arrest. At this stage, these are accusations only — Ricardo Jamal Martin is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
2/5/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE FOR RICARDO JAMAL MARTIN
What this means: Attorney Savannah Griffin of the Office of the Circuit Public Defender, located at 201 Second Street, Suite 550, Macon, Georgia, formally notified the Bibb County Superior Court that she would be representing Ricardo Jamal Martin in this case. This is a standard step that officially puts the court and the prosecution on notice of who is speaking for the defendant going forward.
2/18/26
DEFENSE FILES MOTION TO SET BOND FOR RICARDO JAMAL MARTIN
What this means: Attorney Savannah Griffin filed a formal request asking the Bibb County Superior Court to set a bond amount that would allow Ricardo Jamal Martin to be released from jail while his case is pending. The motion argued that Martin would not leave Bibb County if released, would appear for all court dates, and does not pose a significant risk of flight, danger to the community, or interference with witnesses. At the time the motion was filed, the case had not yet been presented to a grand jury. A notice of hearing was also filed the same day, alerting the District Attorney’s office that the bond request would be scheduled for a court hearing.
2/26/26
BOND DENIED FOR RICARDO JAMAL MARTIN
What this means: A Bibb County Superior Court judge held a hearing on February 26, 2026, and denied Ricardo Jamal Martin’s request to be released on bond. The court found that the State proved by a preponderance of the evidence — meaning it was more likely than not — that Martin poses a significant risk of fleeing, a significant threat or danger to the community, a significant risk of committing another felony while the case is pending, and a significant risk of intimidating witnesses or obstructing justice. As a result, Ricardo Jamal Martin will remain held in jail without bond as the case moves forward.
4/21/26
GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT — 7 COUNTS FILED AGAINST RICARDO JAMAL MARTIN
What this means: A Bibb County grand jury formally indicted Ricardo Jamal Martin on April 21, 2026, under case number 26CR86745, during the April Term 2026 of Bibb Superior Court. District Attorney Anita R. Howard, along with prosecutors Robert Shockley and Aubrey Walker, presented the case. The grand jury returned a “True Bill,” meaning they found enough evidence to move forward with formal charges. Ricardo Jamal Martin is accused of seven counts stemming from events that allegedly occurred on January 29, 2026, in Bibb County. All charges are accusations — Ricardo Jamal Martin is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Count 1 — Home Invasion in the First Degree (O.C.G.A. 16-7-5): Martin is accused of unlawfully entering the dwelling of the victim while armed with a handgun and with the intent to commit Aggravated Assault, while the victim was present inside.
Count 2 — Armed Robbery (O.C.G.A. 16-8-41): Martin is accused of taking a bookbag belonging to the victim by using a handgun, an offensive weapon, while the victim was present.
Count 3 — Aggravated Assault (O.C.G.A. 16-5-21): Martin is accused of making an assault upon the victim with a deadly weapon — specifically a handgun — by pointing it at the victim.
Count 4 — False Imprisonment (O.C.G.A. 16-5-41): Martin is accused of unlawfully confining the victim without legal authority, in violation of the victim’s personal liberty.
Count 5 — Terroristic Threats (O.C.G.A. 16-11-37(b)): Martin is accused of threatening to shoot the victim with the purpose of terrorizing the victim.
Count 6 — Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (O.C.G.A. 16-11-106): Martin is accused of unlawfully having a handgun on his person during the commission of Aggravated Assault against the victim.
Count 7 — Possession of a Firearm by a First Offender Probationer (O.C.G.A. 16-11-131(b)): Martin is accused of knowingly and without lawful authority possessing and transporting a firearm — specifically a Sarsilmaz 9mm handgun — while on probation as a felony first offender under Indictment Number 2024-C-0061078-A in Houston County Superior Court, where he was sentenced on May 23, 2024, for Robbery by Force.
6/10/26
DEFENSE FILES SECOND MOTION TO SET BOND FOR RICARDO JAMAL MARTIN
What this means: On June 10, 2026, attorney Savannah Griffin filed a second motion asking the Bibb County Superior Court to set a bond for Ricardo Jamal Martin in case number 26CR-86745. The motion was electronically filed with Bibb County Superior Court Clerk Erica L. Woodford and assigned to Judge Indria Belgrave. The defense argued that Martin has remained in jail since his January 29, 2026 arrest, maintains his innocence, and has a meritorious defense he intends to press at trial. The motion also noted that as of the filing date, no grand jury had yet considered the charges — and requested that bond be set without waiving Martin’s right to a Preliminary Hearing. A hearing on this motion was requested on June 10, 2026.
6/26/26
BOND GRANTED FOR RICARDO JAMAL MARTIN — $25,000
What this means: A Bibb County Superior Court judge signed an order on June 26, 2026, granting Ricardo Jamal Martin a bond set at $25,000. This means Martin can be released from jail while his case is pending if he or someone on his behalf pays or arranges the bond amount. This reverses the court’s earlier February 26, 2026 denial of bond. The case continues, and Ricardo Jamal Martin is still presumed innocent of all charges against him.