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Name:
DIXON, JOHN DEWAYNE
Date of Booking:
04/24/2025
Reason(s) For Booking:
CRUELTY TO CHILDREN-CAUSES EXCESSIVE PHYSICAL OR MENTAL PAIN – 1ST DEGREE
BATTERY- 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 04/24/25, I was contacted by Department of Family and Children Services investigator [WITNESS #1] and told that she had a [REDACTED BY AGENCY] at the Carrollton High School disclosing that her stepfather [John ‘Jake” Dixon] had caused bruise injuries to her legs. This investigation occurred due to a DFCS referral being completed [by the high school counselor after an interview with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] on 04/21/24] and [WITNESS #1] was following up on the referral. The original referral was completed after an interview with the school counselor.
[WITNESS #1] explained that the referral was completed and listed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] as the victim child [this was in error by the counselor]. [WITNESS #1] tried to find [REDACTED BY AGENCY] at school on Tuesday and Wednesday without contact. [WITNESS #1] did find [REDACTED BY AGENCY] at school and after an interview, determined [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had siblings in the home (this information was not on the demographics for [REDACTED BY AGENCY]) and had no bruises and limited knowledge of information in the referral but enough to guide [WITNESS #1] to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] [WITNESS #1] made contact with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] older sister, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] at the Carrollton High School and discovered that she had bruises during an interview. [WITNESS #1] learned from [REDACTED BY AGENCY] that her Step-father had caused the bruises. [WITNESS #1] learned they had a 5 year old sister named [REDACTED BY AGENCY] at Sandhill Elementary School. [WITNESS #1] requested that a forensic interview be completed on all three children. [WITNESS #1] sent me pictures of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] bruises and I could clearly see what appeared to be softball size bruising on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] leg that had some yellowing color to the bruise that led me to believe they were in the stage of healing. Based on this information, I agreed and called the West Georgia Child Advocacy Center and was able to arrange emergency interviews.
I directed Cpl. Whitney Vaughn to make contact with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] at Sandhill Elementary. I directed Sgt. Thomas to make contact with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] at the Carrollton High School. I asked School Resource Officer Halle Rosen to make contact with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] at the Carrollton Elementary School. There were several attempts to contact [REDACTED BY AGENCY] mother, [WITNESS #2], by phone with no contact. There were attempts by phone to make contact with John “Jake” Dixon without contact. Jake is [REDACTED BY AGENCY] step-father.
Detective Sheffield and I drove to [100 BLOCK] Wilson Circle and noticed a blue Ford F150 backed in the driveway and a black Ford 4 door sedan pulled into the driveway. I knocked on two different doors on the front of the residence facing the roadway. I knocked very loudly several times on each door. No one came to the door.
I learned that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] at the Sandhill Elementary was a car rider and that her step father picks her up from school. We drove up to the end of Wilson Circle at Wilson Drive and parked there to see if one of the vehicle left the residence. We didn’t see a vehicle leave. We drove to Carrollton Elementary School and met with SRO Rosen and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Detective Sheffield received a call from [WITNESS #2] and she gave us permission to interview the children at the West Georgia Child Advocacy Center. [WITNESS #2] allowed us to transport the children to the West Georgia Child Advocacy Center and agreed to meet us at that location. Sgt. Sheffield and myself drove to the West Georgia Child Advocacy Center in Sgt. Sheffield’s vehicle.
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] was interviewed first with Sgt. Thomas observing. I went into the parking lot of the West Georgia Child Advocacy center were I interviewed [WITNESS #2] about this case. [WITNESS #2] essentially said but not verbatim the following:
I started speaking to [WITNESS #2] and I turned on the recording app on my work phone to record our conversation. Detective Sheffield began talking with Jake away from our conversation. [WITNESS #2] talked about giving a whooping but that she was not beating her and spoke about her other two children that she does not give a whooping. [WITNESS #2] told me about an event that occurred on 04/19/25-04/20/25 where [REDACTED BY AGENCY] left her house after an argument about things found on phone and the police were called (case number 25042368).
[WITNESS #2] confirmed that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] will be [REDACTED BY AGENCY] soon and [WITNESS #2] said she had smashed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] phone after finding stuff on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] phone. [WITNESS #2] became upset as she spoke of finding disturbing things on her [REDACTED BY AGENCY] daughter’s phone. [WITNESS #2] said these were some really crazy things and [WITNESS #2] smashed the phone in front of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and threw it away. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was upset and spoke about her mom being toxic according to [WITNESS #2].
[WITNESS #2] said that she talked with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] the next morning and (04/19/25) and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was upset and left the house without shoes and a bra. [WITNESS #2] followed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to get her to come back home and eventually the police were called by John “Jake” Dixon, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] step-dad. A police report was filed documenting the incident (25042368 on 04/19/25). That report reads as follows:
Case #25042368
Ofc. Carnes #235
On 04/19/2025 at approximately 1032 hours, I responded to Lake Carroll Park in reference to an unruly child.
Once on scene, I met with John Dixon (complainant) who stated that his step daughter, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] would not get in his truck (blue Ford F150, GA Tag [REDACTED]) to return home. I asked why, and John stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY], [WITNESS #2] (mother of [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/John’s wife), and he got into an argument at their house ([100 BLOCK] Wilson Circle) between approximately 0930 hours to 1000 hours over [REDACTED BY AGENCY] phone usage. John stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] is spending too much time on her phone and talking to friends that they disapprove of. John stated that [WITNESS #2] took [REDACTED BY AGENCY] phone from her and will not give it back at this time.
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that her mom, [WITNESS #2], took her phone for talking to friends that she disapproves of, but does not feel that it is fair for her to not give the phone back. The phone was given to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] by her parents at an earlier date. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that she did not want to get into the truck to go home because of the argument earlier in the day. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] finally agreed to go home with her parents.
All parties stated that the dispute was verbal only, and were advised of possible resources regarding family violence.
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] went to her room after the police arrived and she went back home. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] wanted to just stay in her room but her parents were telling her to do things.
[WITNESS #2] said [REDACTED BY AGENCY] talked to her last night because she thinks her mother is wrong about taking her phone away. [WITNESS #2] said [REDACTED BY AGENCY] is mad at her because she wants her phone and her mother won’t give it back to her.
I explained that we were at this situation because a DFCS referral was made. I explained the Handle with Care program to [WITNESS #2] but I later learned that this case did not involve that program.
[WITNESS #2] told me about [REDACTED BY AGENCY] punishment was to pull weeds in the yard. This was something her parents made her do and this was [REDACTED BY AGENCY] punishment. Well [REDACTED BY AGENCY] just stood there and wouldn’t pull the weeds. [WITNESS #2] explained that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] is bigger than her. [WITNESS #2] said [REDACTED BY AGENCY] uses that to over power [WITNESS #2].
I brought the conversation back to why we are [investigating] bruises on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] [WITNESS #2] during this conversation is speaking fast and asking many rapid fire questions and not allowing each question to be answered without another question being asked. [WITNESS #2] was asking multiple questions about the bruises and that they were associated with a whooping. [WITNESS #2] asked the question about where I/we would have makings at if we got a whooping growing up. [WITNESS #1], a DFCS case worker/investigator, had walked up and began to answer the question.
[WITNESS #2] interrupted the answer and began explaining that an officer told her that legally in the state of Georgia it is not against the law to give a child in the state of Georgia a whooping. [WITNESS #1] told her that you can’t leave any bruises on the child. [WITNESS #2] confirmed all of this happened on 04/19/25 the same day the police were called. [WITNESS #2] said there were no marking on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] I explained that there are some bruises on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] [WITNESS #2] kept explaining that on 04/19/25 that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had on booty shorts, no bra and a tank top and there were no markings on her that day.
[WITNESS #2] is speaking rapidly and appeared very hyper in her speech. I explained that I have pictures on my phone of bruises on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and that they were very visible.
I explained again that we want to talk to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and that was why [we were at the Child Advocacy Center]. [WITNESS #2] told me again that is was fine to talk with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and the children.
[WITNESS #2] spoke about her believing that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was doing this to be defiant. I told [WITNESS #2] that I realized that there were some issues with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and I spoke toward [WITNESS #1] that there was an earlier discussion about those issues that she didn’t hear. [WITNESS #2] said yes child pornography. I then told [WITNESS #1] the issues [WITNESS #2] was having with [REDACTED BY AGENCY]
I explained that [WITNESS #1] had a protocol to follow with DFCS. I asked if [WITNESS #2] was the disciplinarian and she said not that [Jake] has to be the disciplinarian. [WITNESS #2] said she is a pushover. [WITNESS #2] confirmed this wasn’t the first time she found stuff in [REDACTED BY AGENCY] phone. The first incident was not reported and or didn’t result in the police being called. [WITNESS #2] said she would take the phone but kept having to give it back because she would need to communicate with [REDACTED BY AGENCY]
[WITNESS #2] told us about finding pictures and videos on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] phone of her playing with herself. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was sending the videos out to people on Snap chat. I explained to [WITNESS #2] that she had a right to deal with that issue and try to get a handle on it but the issue we are running into is that we can’t cross a line to where she is injured. I explained corporal punishment under the Simple Battery code section but I also said that you cant leave any injuries.
[WITNESS #1] explained DFCS’s process and told [WITNESS #2] that depending on what is said in the interview that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] may or may not be coming home with her. I noticed that [WITNESS #2] seemed visibly upset with [WITNESS #1] made that statement.
[WITNESS #1] had [WITNESS #2] sign some of her documents.
[WITNESS #2] confirmed that she doesn’t discipline the younger siblings. [WITNESS #2] confirmed that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] has a different biological father but Jake is [REDACTED BY AGENCY] father.
I stepped away from [WITNESS #1] and [WITNESS #2] working on DFCS paperwork.
At this time, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was in an interview with Forensic interviewer [REDACTED] of the West Georgia Child Advocacy Center.
I spoke with Detective Sheffield about his interview with Jake and he realized that he had attempted to record the conversation but that his phone didn’t actually record their conversation. I decided to interview Jake since I was the lead investigator on the case. I approached Jake in the parking lot of the West Georgia Child Advocacy Center and realized he was on the phone and told him that I wanted to talk to him but that he could finish his phone call.
Jake said on Friday morning about 2AM his wife went to use the phone [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was using because it has the cashapp on it and [WITNESS #2] needed to use that app. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] told [WITNESS #2] that the phone was dead but it was in [REDACTED BY AGENCY] hand. Jake said he was asleep during this and this is what [WITNESS #2] had told him. [WITNESS #2] reached for the phone and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] tussled with [WITNESS #2] to keep her from getting the phone. [WITNESS #2] gets the phone and goes in her room and tells Jake to get up. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] comes in there banging on the door wanting her phone. Telling [WITNESS #2] to give back her phone. Jake tells [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to go to her room. Jake said [REDACTED BY AGENCY] ignored his 15 to 20 times of telling her to go to her room. Jake got up and told [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to go to her room and she told him that she would go in a minute. Jake said he told [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to go the her room and he grabbed his belt. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] is still telling Jake that she will go to her room in a minute. Jake told her one more time and then starting hitting her across her legs.
I asked Jake to tell me about that [how the whooping occurred]. Jake said she is a big girl and said she is about as wide as he is. I’m looking at Jake and he is a large male who is bigger than me. This caused me to imaging how big [REDACTED BY AGENCY] is since I hadn’t met her at this point. [Jake implied that a traditional corporal punishment was not going to work.] Jake explained that this wasn’t the first incident with the phone and described a conversation with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] He explained that she put a pass code on the phone. She finally opens the phone and notice that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had deleted [her part of the conversation in Snapchat] but left his side of the conversation. Jake said this was pe*is pictures and pe*is videos. Jake told [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to wipe out that stuff and that we are not going to do this. She was forbidden to have the app. Jake said here we are again down the same path. Jake said this time is worse than the first time.
Jake [speaking about the first time of the Snapchat pictures and videos] told [REDACTED BY AGENCY] that it’s done and nothing we can do about it now and move forward from it but we are not going to do it again and we are done with the conversation.
Jake said they got up the next morning to talk about it and it was [REDACTED BY AGENCY] way or the highway. [WITNESS #2] smashed the phone. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was mad about her punishment of pulling weeds. Jake said he didn’t [know anything about that kind of punishment] that he got whoopings. I mentioned that [WITNESS #2] is trying something different instead of a spanking. Jake said he has tried everything to avoid that. Jake said he’s tried everything in the world to avoid spanking. Jake said he had to go old school. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] wasn’t listening and being grown. Jake said [WITNESS #2] hit [REDACTED BY AGENCY] across the legs once. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] turned during mid swing and hit [REDACTED BY AGENCY] across the back once. Jake said he went into the house and turned around and went back outside and heard [REDACTED BY AGENCY] tell [WITNESS #2] [face to face] do it. Jake said he walked up to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and slapped her across the face.
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] walked off and she was told to come back. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] wasn’t listening and doing what she was told. She walked down the street and they were able to get her to come back. Jake said his mother was on the phone hearing all of what happened. [WITNESS #2] got her back to the house and Jake said they needed to figure something out because something had to the give. Jake said his mother said if she ain’t listening then call the cops. Jake said he called the cops. He said trying to get her to come home was like talking to a bush. The police arrived and documented the incident.
I explained to Jake that we were involved because of the bruises on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Jake didn’t seem to be aware of the bruising. Jake asked where the bruising was and told him her legs. Jake said it’s called discipline. Jake confirmed the marks/bruises are from the belt used. Jake denied having to fight with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Jake said if he did that [caused the bruising] he wouldn’t be here. Jake said if was going to go it would be for a good reason. Jake said the belt across the legs or the a*s don’t matter because it’s discipline. Jake stated what the officer told him about it being legal to spank your child. I confirmed that information. Jake then said you are not going to spank a 14 year old by patting her on the butt. It’s not going to work. I explained to Jake that we have to be careful about not injuring the child and Jake responded that she doesn’t have a broken leg, she doesn’t have a busted lip, or broke rib. I said that is obviously a different level of punishment. Jake said that was the next level after the belt, bruises. Jake said he never noticed the bruises. Jake explained that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] light skinned.
I explained Handle with Care to Jake. I explained how the child may see the counselor at school and tell their story and that the counselor is a mandated reporter. This case was reported because of the story and the bruises. I explained why we use the forensic interviewers. Jake wants the two youngest children interviewed and wants them to say exactly what they see. That was the end of our conversation.
Sgt Thomas witnessed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] interview and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] disclosed that her step-dad, Jake, is the person that put the bruises on her. See Sgt. Thomas’ interview for further statements.
Based on the evidence of bruising on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] leg (photographed) and a scratch on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] face (photographed) and the admission by [WITNESS #2], Jake and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] that Jake caused the bruises during discipline, Jake was arrested for Cruelty to Children 1st family violence and Battery family violence. I requested a transport vehicle meet me at the West Georgia Child Advocacy Center and Sgt. Cheatwood responded. I told Jake that he was under arrest and Sgt. Cheatwood put him in handcuffs and transported him to the jail where he was booked.
[WITNESS #1] with DFCS continued to work with [WITNESS #2] with their protocol.
[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:
5/1/25
DEFENSE ENTRY OF APPEARANCE VALERIE COOKE
What this means: On this date, attorney Valerie Cooke officially filed paperwork stating she represents the defendant. From that point forward, she would receive court notices and handle the case on the defendant’s behalf.
5/2/25
APPEARANCE BOND ($25,000)
What this means: A $25,000 appearance bond was set or posted for the defendant’s release. This allowed the defendant to remain out of custody while the case is pending, as long as all court dates are attended and any bond conditions are followed.
5/23/25
DEFENSE ATTORNEY LEAVE OF ABSENCE FILED
What this means: Valerie Cooke, who is John Dixon’s defense attorney in this Carroll County case, filed a notice that she would be unavailable from July 21, 2025, through July 25, 2025. Defense attorneys must notify the court when they will be unavailable so hearings and other proceedings can be scheduled around their absence.
9/26/25
DEFENSE ATTORNEY LEAVE OF ABSENCE FILED
What this means: Valerie Cooke filed another notice that she would be unavailable from December 15, 2025, through December 23, 2025. This is a routine filing to ensure no court proceedings in John Dixon’s case are scheduled during her planned absence.
10/16/25
DEFENSE ATTORNEY LEAVE OF ABSENCE FILED
What this means: Valerie Cooke filed a third leave of absence notice, this time for March 20, 2026, through March 27, 2026. Defense attorneys typically file these notices well in advance to avoid scheduling conflicts in their cases.
2/27/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY LEAVE OF ABSENCE FILED
What this means: Valerie Cooke filed another brief leave of absence notice for March 3, 2026 through March 4, 2026. This was a short absence period, likely for personal or professional reasons that required her to be unavailable for court proceedings in John Dixon’s case.