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Name:
Bohannon, Jason Garrett
Date of Booking:
12/13/2025
Reason(s) For Booking:
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT – F
POSSESSION OF FIREARM OR KNIFE DURING COMMISSION OF OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT CERTAIN FELONIES – F
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 12/13/25 around 1623 hours, I, Officer Buck, was dispatched to a fight in progress at 130 E Victory Dr (The Savannah Market).
Call notes advised a homeless couple was fighting in the back of the store and the white male was beating the female badly.
Upon arrival, Officer Brandmire located the couple behind the store in the fenced off dumpster area. Officer Brandmire spoke with male party (Jason Bohannon) while I spoke with the female [VICTIM #1]. Ms [VICTIM #1] was vague when I asked her what happened; but I observed her chest and face were red and her hair appeared to be tussled. She stated they have been staying in the fenced dumpster area of the Savannah Market and today she got into an argument with her boyfriend.
I asked what the argument was about and she was unable to recall. She originally stated the argument was simply verbal and never became physical but later advised to Ofc Brandmire that she was strangled (view Ofc Brandmire’s supplemental for her statements and the lethality form). I then asked how long she had been with Mr Bohannon to which she advised they had been living together for a couple months. After speaking with Ms [VICTIM #1], I spoke with Mr Bohannon.
Mr Bohannon advised Ms [VICTIM #1] was his wife and has brain cancer. He stated they got into a verbal argument but it never became physical. I observed what appeared to be scratch marks on Mr Bohannon’s neck. (he later advised the scratch marks were from a physical altercation the night prior)
I located a camera above where the incident occurred and Officer Kemp was to review the footage while Ofc Brandmire and I were conducting our interviews.
The video footage shows Mr Bohannon grab Ms [VICTIM #1] by the hair and yank it several times. Ms [VICTIM #1] tries to walk away but he then grabs her hands and begins shoving her against the wooden fence wall. Mr Bohannon slaps Ms [VICTIM #1] and grabs her by the back of the neck, forcefully shoving Ms [VICTIM #1]’s head into the wood several times. Ms [VICTIM #1] is seen continuing to attempt to pull away and grabs what appears to be a PVC pipe to attempt to hit Mr Bohannon in hopes he would let her go.
The tussling continues and the couple ends up on the ground where Mr Bohannon is seen grabbing his hands around Ms [VICTIM #1]’s neck and applying pressure by lowering his body weight onto her. This section of the video last for nearly 50 seconds before Mr Bohannon gets off of Ms [VICTIM #1]. Once off of her, he grabs the PVC pipe and secures the gate closed with them both inside. Mr Bohannon grabs Ms [VICTIM #1] several more times before Officer Brandmire arrives. The entirety of the altercation lasted over five minutes.
EMS was called to the scene to assess Ms [VICTIM #1].
Sgt Korte responded to the scene. Detectives were called but did not respond to the scene.
Given the video footage of the event, Mr Bohannon was placed under arrest. He was placed into handcuffs that were checked for fit and double locked. Ofc Kemp conducted a search incident to arrest where he located a taser and pocket knife (approximately 4in) on Mr Bohannon’s person.
Mr Bohannon was taken to Memorial Medical Center to obtain medical clearance prior to being transported to Chatham County Detention Center.
Mr Bohannon was charged with Aggravated Assault DVA (Strangulation) OCGA 16-5-21, as well as possession of a knife during the commission of a felony OCGA 16-11-106 (due to having a stun gun and pocket knife on his person during the strangulation).
The stun gun and pocket knife were transferred to Ofc Marion to be logged into the property room as evidence.
The video footage was uploaded to evidence.com via Axon Capture.
All injuries observed were photographed and uploaded to Evidence.com
Both subject were also banned from the Savannah Market as requested by store worker, (view CRN 251213061).
[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:
12/22/25
ORDER – BOND ORDER
What this means: The judge decided whether the defendant could be released from jail while waiting for trial. The judge denied bond, which means the defendant must remain in custody for now.
12/22/25
FIRST APPEARANCE
What this means: This was the defendant’s first court hearing after being charged. The judge explained the charges, informed the defendant of their rights, and discussed the next steps in the case.
12/23/25
17-16-1
What this means: This means that under the law (Code Section 17-16-1), the Recorder’s Court does not have the legal authority to set or review bond for this type of charge. Because of that, only a higher court can decide whether bond may be granted.
1/5/26
FELONY DOCKET HEARING AT 2:00PM
What this means: This is a scheduled court hearing for felony cases. During this hearing, the judge reviews the case, addresses preliminary matters, and determines whether the case should move forward.
1/5/26
BOUND UP TO SUPERIOR COURT
What this means: The lower court determined there was enough evidence for the case to continue. The case was then transferred to Superior Court, which handles more serious felony charges.
1/6/26
COURT COMMITAL
What this means: This is the official paperwork confirming that the case has been formally sent to Superior Court. It documents the transfer so the higher court can continue handling the case from this point forward.
1/6/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE
What this means: Jacob DeFazio, an assistant public defender with the Chatham County Office of the Public Defender, formally entered the case as the court-appointed attorney representing Jason Garrett Bohannon in Superior Court of Chatham County, Case No. SPCR25-03572-J4. This filing officially put the court and the prosecution on notice that DeFazio would be handling the defense.
1/9/26
BOND HEARING HELD
What this means: A bond hearing was held before Judge John E. Morse Jr. in the Superior Court of Chatham County for Jason Garrett Bohannon, who had been in custody since his booking on December 13, 2025. At this hearing, the court considered whether Bohannon should be released while the case moved forward.
1/9/26
BOND DENIED
What this means: Judge John E. Morse Jr. denied Jason Garrett Bohannon’s application for bond. The court found that Bohannon posed a significant risk of fleeing the jurisdiction or failing to appear in court and also posed a significant risk of intimidating witnesses or obstructing the administration of justice. As a result, Bohannon remained held in custody without bond.
2/25/26
GRAND JURY INDICTMENT RETURNED
What this means: A Chatham County grand jury formally indicted Jason Garrett Bohannon on two felony counts. Count 1 charges him with Aggravated Assault under O.C.G.A. 16-5-21, alleging that on or about December 13, 2025, he knowingly assaulted the victim by using his hands to apply pressure to the victim’s neck, causing strangulation. Count 2 charges him with Possession of a Knife During Commission of a Felony under O.C.G.A. 16-11-106, alleging he unlawfully had on his person a knife with a three-inch blade during the commission of the aggravated assault. The indictment was signed by District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones of the Eastern Judicial Circuit. The grand jury voted true bill on Count 1 and no bill on Count 2, meaning the grand jury declined to indict on the knife charge — though that charge remained in the case at this stage through other means.
2/26/26
RULE NISI FILED — BOND HEARING SCHEDULED
What this means: Defense attorney Jacob DeFazio filed a Rule Nisi, which is a formal notice scheduling a court hearing. The filing set a bond hearing before Judge John E. Morse Jr. for March 16, 2026, at 9 a.m., so the court could consider Jason Garrett Bohannon’s petition to have bond set in his case.
2/26/26
DEFENDANT’S ELECTION TO PROCEED UNDER DISCOVERY STATUTE
What this means: Defense attorney Jacob DeFazio filed a notice on behalf of Jason Garrett Bohannon electing to proceed under O.C.G.A. § 17-16-1 et seq., Georgia’s criminal discovery statute. This means Bohannon formally invoked his right to receive evidence and materials from the prosecution before trial — a process known as discovery — which requires both sides to share certain information with each other in advance.
2/26/26
MOTION TO RESERVE RIGHT TO FILE ADDITIONAL MOTIONS
What this means: Defense attorney Jacob DeFazio filed a motion asking the court to preserve Jason Garrett Bohannon’s right to file additional legal motions later in the case if needed. The filing noted that informal discovery was still ongoing and incomplete, and that the complexity of the charges might require further motions as new materials came in. The defense also requested that all future hearings be recorded by a certified court reporter.
3/2/26
STATE’S SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL
What this means: The prosecution filed a notice substituting its attorney of record on Case No. SPCR25-03572-J4. Assistant District Attorney Patrick Sancomb of the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office, Eastern Judicial Circuit, was designated as the new prosecutor assigned to Jason Garrett Bohannon’s case. All future filings and correspondence from the court were to be directed to Sancomb going forward. The substitution was entered by the court on March 5, 2026.
3/16/26
BOND HEARING HELD BEFORE JUDGE JOHN E. MORSE JR.
What this means: The bond hearing scheduled by the February 26 Rule Nisi was held at 9 a.m. before Judge John E. Morse Jr. in the Superior Court of Chatham County. The court considered Jason Garrett Bohannon’s petition to have bond set in Case No. SPCR25-03572-J4, which carries charges of Aggravated Assault and related offenses.
3/16/26
BOND DENIED A SECOND TIME
What this means: Judge John E. Morse Jr. again denied bond for Jason Garrett Bohannon. The court found that Bohannon posed a significant risk of fleeing the jurisdiction or failing to appear, and a significant risk of intimidating witnesses or obstructing justice. The defendant remained held in custody. This order was prepared by defense attorney Jacob DeFazio.
5/1/26
KNIFE CHARGE DISMISSED — GRAND JURY NO BILL
What this means: A memorandum from Assistant District Attorney Sean O’Brien confirmed that the grand jury had no-billed — meaning declined to indict — Jason Garrett Bohannon on the charge of Possession of a Knife During Commission of a Felony (Case No. SPCR25-03572-J4). That charge was formally dismissed. The memo noted that other charges from the same incident had been indicted on February 25, 2026, and that this dismissal was not authorization to release Bohannon from custody.
5/1/26
GUILTY PLEA ENTERED — NEGOTIATED PLEA APPROVED
What this means: Jason Garrett Bohannon appeared in open court before Judge John E. Morse Jr. and pleaded guilty to Aggravated Assault as part of a negotiated plea agreement. The voluntariness transcript and acknowledgment forms show that Bohannon confirmed he understood the charges, the terms of the agreement, and the rights he was giving up by pleading guilty. Defense attorney Jacob DeFazio and Assistant District Attorney Patrick Sancomb both signed off on the agreement. Judge John E. Morse Jr. approved the plea, finding it was made freely, knowingly, and voluntarily.
5/1/26
SENTENCE IMPOSED — 10 YEARS, 4 MONTHS TO SERVE
What this means: Following his guilty plea, Jason Garrett Bohannon was sentenced by Judge John E. Morse Jr. in the Superior Court of Chatham County. On Count 1, Aggravated Assault, the court sentenced him to 10 years total — with the first 4 months to be served in confinement and the remaining 9 years and 8 months to be served on probation. The knife charge (Count 2) was disposed of by nolle prosequi, meaning the prosecution formally dropped it. Bohannon received credit for time already served in custody from December 13, 2025, through May 1, 2026. The repeat offender enhancement was waived, and all supervision fees, public defender application fees, and attorney’s fees were waived. The sentence was entered under the March Term of 2026.
5/1/26
SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF PROBATION IMPOSED
What this means: As part of his sentence, Jason Garrett Bohannon was ordered to comply with a detailed set of special probation conditions in Case No. SPCR25-03572-J4. Among the conditions: he must report to the DCS Probation Office as directed; he agreed to a Fourth Amendment waiver, meaning probation or law enforcement officers may search his person, home, or vehicle without a warrant under certain circumstances; he must submit to drug and alcohol testing upon request; he is ordered to have no violent contact with the named victim in this case; and he is banned from Chatham County starting 30 days after his release from custody. If Bohannon completes five years of probation with no new arrests, the balance of his probated sentence will be terminated.
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