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Name:
Johnson, Jakobie Ja Ke
Date of Booking:
04/03/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
MURDER – F
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT – F
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:
4/3/26
JAKOBIE JA KE JOHNSON ARRESTED AND BOOKED
What this means: Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson was taken into custody on April 3, 2026, in Chatham County. At the time of booking, Johnson was facing charges of Murder and Aggravated Assault, both felonies.
4/10/26
BOND DENIED AT FIRST APPEARANCE — JAKOBIE JA KE JOHNSON
What this means: At his first appearance before a judge in the Recorder’s Court of Chatham County, Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson was denied bond under O.C.G.A. § 17-6-1(a), which requires that bond for certain serious offenses be set only by a Superior Court judge. The bond order was signed by Judge Crystal Denise Harmon of the Recorder’s Court, Eastern Judicial Circuit. The order was prepared by defense attorney Karis Pensek.
4/20/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY FILES ENTRY OF APPEARANCE — RYAN S. RAINES
What this means: Attorney Ryan S. Raines of the Public Defender’s Office, Eastern Judicial Circuit, formally entered his appearance in Chatham County Superior Court as the attorney representing Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson in case number SPCR26-00998-J6. This is the official notice to the court and the prosecution that Raines is Johnson’s counsel of record.
5/4/26
17-6-1(c) 30-DAY BOND HEARING HELD — JAKOBIE JA KE JOHNSON
What this means: A bond hearing was held on May 4, 2026, at 9:00 AM under O.C.G.A. § 17-6-1(c), which allows a defendant charged with a serious offense to request a bond hearing before a Superior Court judge when bond was previously denied. This was the first such hearing in the 30-day review cycle for Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson.
5/7/26
CASE BOUND UP TO SUPERIOR COURT — JAKOBIE JA KE JOHNSON
What this means: On May 7, 2026, the Recorder’s Court of Chatham County formally transferred Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson’s case to Chatham County Superior Court. A notification letter from Donna Willingham, Senior Director of the Recorder’s Court, was sent to the Superior Court Administrator confirming the transfer. The letter noted that the Recorder’s Court is statutorily unable to consider bond for Johnson given the charges — Murder and Aggravated Assault. The case was assigned Recorder’s Court case number RCCR26-08046.
5/26/26
17-6-1(c) 30-DAY BOND HEARING HELD — JAKOBIE JA KE JOHNSON
What this means: A second bond hearing under O.C.G.A. § 17-6-1(c) was held on May 26, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Chatham County Superior Court. This was a continued review of whether bond should be set for Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson while he awaits trial on the indicted charges.
5/27/26
GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT — 5 COUNTS FILED AGAINST JAKOBIE JA KE JOHNSON
What this means: A Chatham County grand jury returned a true bill of indictment against Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson on May 27, 2026, in the Superior Court of Chatham County, March Term 2026, under case number SPCR26-00998-J6. The indictment was signed by Assistant District Attorney Whitney J. O’Brien, with District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones of the Eastern Judicial Circuit. The witness listed is Damian Papa of the Savannah Police Department. The five counts are as follows:
Count 1 — Malice Murder (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-1(a)): Johnson is accused of, with malice aforethought, causing the death of a victim by shooting him with a firearm on or about April 3, 2026, in Chatham County.
Count 2 — Felony Murder (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-1(c)): Johnson is accused of causing the death of the same victim while in the commission of Aggravated Assault, by shooting him with a firearm on or about April 3, 2026.
Count 3 — Aggravated Assault (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-21): Johnson is accused of making an assault upon the victim with a deadly weapon — a firearm — by shooting him on or about April 3, 2026.
Count 4 — Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-106): Johnson is accused of unlawfully having a pistol on his person on or about April 3, 2026, during the commission of Felony Murder.
Count 5 — Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-106): Johnson is accused of unlawfully having a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine on his person on or about April 3, 2026, during the commission of Aggravated Assault.
5/28/26
DEFENSE FILES ELECTION TO PROCEED UNDER DISCOVERY STATUTE AND MOTION TO RESERVE RIGHT TO FILE ADDITIONAL MOTIONS — JAKOBIE JA KE JOHNSON
What this means: On May 28, 2026, attorney Ryan S. Raines of the Public Defender’s Office filed two motions on behalf of Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson in Chatham County Superior Court (SPCR26-00998-J6).
The first filing is Johnson’s formal election to proceed under O.C.G.A. § 17-16-1 et seq., Georgia’s reciprocal discovery statute. This means Johnson is invoking his right to receive evidence and materials from the prosecution before trial, and in turn, the defense must also share certain materials with the State.
The second filing is a motion asking the court to reserve Johnson’s right to file additional motions as the case develops. The defense noted that informal discovery is ongoing and that the complexity of the charges may require further motions as new materials are reviewed.
5/29/26
DEFENSE FILES MOTION FOR BOND — JAKOBIE JA KE JOHNSON
What this means: On May 29, 2026, Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson, through his attorney, filed a formal Motion for Bond in Chatham County Superior Court (SPCR26-00998-J6), asking the court to set a reasonable bond. The motion argues that Johnson will not flee, poses no threat or danger to any person or the community, and will not intimidate witnesses. The motion requests that a hearing be held so that evidence can be received and a bond amount set.
5/29/26
RULE NISI ISSUED — BOND HEARING SCHEDULED FOR 6/16/26 — JAKOBIE JA KE JOHNSON
What this means: After the defense filed its Motion for Bond, the court issued a Rule Nisi — a formal court order directing the District Attorney’s Office to appear and show cause why bond should not be granted. The hearing was scheduled for June 16, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Chatham County Superior Court. The order was signed on May 29, 2026, and entered into the record the same day.
6/3/26
SECOND DEFENSE ATTORNEY FILES LIMITED ENTRY OF APPEARANCE — JAKOBIE JA KE JOHNSON
What this means: On June 3, 2026, attorney Amanda Young of Atlanta filed a Limited Entry of Appearance in Chatham County Superior Court (SPCR26-00998-J6), entering as counsel for Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson for bond purposes only. Young’s entry is in addition to Ryan S. Raines, who remains Johnson’s attorney of record on the broader case.
6/16/26
BOND HEARING SCHEDULED — JAKOBIE JA KE JOHNSON
What this means: A bond hearing is scheduled for June 16, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Chatham County Superior Court for Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson. This hearing was scheduled in response to the defense’s Motion for Bond filed on May 29, 2026. The court will consider arguments from both the defense and the prosecution regarding whether bond should be set for Johnson while he awaits trial on the indicted charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony.
7/29/26
BOND DENIED BY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE — JAKOBIE JA KE JOHNSON
What this means: On July 29, 2026, Judge Tammy Stokes of the Chatham County Superior Court, Eastern Judicial Circuit, issued a written Order for Bond in case number SPCR26-00998-J6. After considering all factors presented by defense counsel’s motion for bail, the court found that Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson poses a significant risk to the community and denied bond. Johnson will remain in custody while the case moves forward.
8/3/26
ARRAIGNMENT HEARING SCHEDULED — JAKOBIE JA KE JOHNSON
What this means: An arraignment hearing is scheduled for August 3, 2026, at 11:00 AM in Chatham County Superior Court for Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson. At an arraignment, the defendant is formally informed of the charges against him, advised of his rights, and asked to enter a plea. Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson will be arraigned on the five counts returned by the grand jury on May 27, 2026: Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and two counts of Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony.
10/26/26
ARRAIGNMENT HEARING SCHEDULED — JAKOBIE JA KE JOHNSON
What this means: An arraignment hearing is scheduled for October 26, 2026, at 11:00 AM in Chatham County Superior Court for Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson. At an arraignment, the defendant is formally informed of the charges against him, advised of his rights, and asked to enter a plea. Jakobie Ja Ke Johnson will be arraigned on the five counts returned by the grand jury on May 27, 2026: Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and two counts of Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony.