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Name:
Leathers, Tammy
Date of Booking:
03/20/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
ARSON – 1ST DEGREE – F
CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY – 2ND DEGREE – 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 3/20/2026 at approximately 1220 hours, I responded to [200 BLOCK] Eagle St for a structure fire. Call notes had advised that the fire was in a bedroom and nobody was trapped.
Upon my arrival, I observed smoke exiting the windows and flames visible through the windows in the southeast corner of the building. I activated my emergency lights and parked on the side of the road across from [200 BLOCK] Eagle St. As I was exiting my vehicle, a black female, later identified as Ms. Tammy Leathers, had crossed the street to my patrol vehicle, and was actively opening my back door, saying “I did it, take me to jail, I started the fire.”
Due to me being the sole officer on scene with no other units en route, and the rapid change to the dynamic of the call, I detained Ms. Leathers in handcuffs and advised her of her Miranda Rights. When I asked Ms. Leathers if she was willing to talk with me, she said “no” and I secured her in the back of my patrol car.
I then spoke with Mr. [VICTIM #1], who advised Ms. Leathers had used a lighter and lighter fluid to start a fire in his bedroom. I advised fire fighters who were arriving on scene of the accelerant used and that this is likely an Arson, and had their Incident Commander request an Arson Investigator.
I then continued to speak with Mr. [VICTIM #1], who advised that Ms. Leathers had been living with him at this address for approximately one year, and she was upset that he told her she needed to move out due to a drinking problem. Mr. [VICTIM #1] advised that he had been on the porch with Ms. Leathers, when she reentered the residence, and started the fire. He advised that when she came back outside, she sat down and he checked to see what she did, when he noticed the smoke.
After the fire had been extinguished, I spoke with the Arson Investigator, [REDACTED] (PR 61719). He summarized his findings as there having been 4 independent origins of the fire(s) with 2 in the bedroom of Mr. [VICTIM #1], and 2 in the connected bathroom. He also said that he could not find the bottle of lighter fluid. He advised that with the fire damage, smoke damage, and water damage, the cost of the damages easily exceeds $500 in value.
An itemized list of damaged property was unable to be conducted at the time, due to Mr. [VICTIM #1] being outside the residence while the Arson investigation was conducted. I did observe damage to clothing, walls, floors, and curtains. Photographs of the fire damage have been uploaded to evidence.com.
Ofc Carpita further identified the owner of the property, Ms. [VICTIM #2], as well as the other tenants of the residence, Mr. [REDACTED], and Mr. [REDACTED], who were not in the residence at the time of this incident.
A supervisor was notified of this incident and family violence detectives responded to the scene.
Upon Det Kasemeyer taking over the investigation, I was instructed to transport Ms. Leathers to the Northwest Precinct and to standby with her in the interview room. Upon the conclusion of the detective interview, warrants were acquired for Arson and Criminal Damage to Property, immediately served by Det Kasemeyer. I then transported Ms. Leathers to CCDC where she was booked without issue.
Of note during the time I was with Ms. Leathers in the interview room and in transport, she continuously made spontaneous utterances. These included repeatedly saying that she started the fire. She also described the lighter she used as a blue and white grill lighter. She stated “he’s lucky I didn’t stab him” and he “should’ve saw it coming. She also expressed no remorse for her actions, saying she’ll think about it in a few days, and even asked if we could drive by the residence during transport so that she could see the damage caused.
[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:
3/20/26
TAMMY LEATHERS ARRESTED ON FELONY CHARGES IN CHATHAM COUNTY
What this means: Tammy Leathers was arrested on March 20, 2026, at 2:45 AM and booked into custody in Chatham County under case number RCCR26-06554. Leathers is accused of Arson in the First Degree (Domestic Violence Act) and Criminal Damage to Property in the Second Degree, both felonies. These are accusations only — Tammy Leathers is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
3/23/26
FIRST APPEARANCE HEARING HELD — TAMMY LEATHERS REQUESTS COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEY
What this means: On March 23, 2026, Tammy Leathers appeared before the Recorder’s Court of Chatham County for her first appearance and advisement hearing, presided over by Judge Crystal Denise Harmon of the Eastern Judicial Circuit. At this hearing, Leathers was formally advised of the charges against her and of her legal rights. Leathers elected to request a court-appointed attorney rather than hire her own. A court-appointed attorney is a lawyer provided at no cost to a defendant who cannot afford private representation. A hearing was scheduled for April 20, 2026, at 2:00 PM in Courtroom 1B of the Chatham County Courthouse.
3/23/26
BOND DENIED — TAMMY LEATHERS ORDERED HELD WITHOUT BOND
What this means: Also on March 23, 2026, Judge Crystal Denise Harmon issued a bond order in the Recorder’s Court of Chatham County denying bond for Tammy Leathers entirely. The court found that Leathers poses a danger to persons or property in the community and may commit a felony while on release. As a result, Leathers was ordered held in custody with no bond. The order was issued under O.C.G.A. § 17-6-1(a), which allows a court to deny release when those risk factors are present. Leathers must remain in custody until a judge orders otherwise.
4/20/26
FELONY DOCKET HEARING HELD — OFFICER REQUIRED
What this means: On April 20, 2026, Tammy Leathers appeared on the felony docket in the Recorder’s Court of Chatham County. This was a scheduled court date requiring the arresting or investigating officer to be present. Docket hearings like this are routine check-in points where the court reviews the status of a felony case before deciding how to proceed.
4/20/26
TAMMY LEATHERS BOUND OVER TO SUPERIOR COURT
What this means: Also on April 20, 2026, the Recorder’s Court of Chatham County determined there was sufficient probable cause to send Tammy Leathers’s case to Chatham County Superior Court. This process — called being “bound over” — means the felony charges against Leathers have moved out of Recorder’s Court and into Superior Court, which is the court in Georgia that handles felony trials and proceedings. The case will continue there, where a grand jury may consider whether to formally indict Leathers.
4/27/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE FOR TAMMY LEATHERS
What this means: On April 27, 2026, attorney Andrette Watson of the Chatham County Office of the Public Defender formally entered her appearance as defense counsel for Tammy Leathers in the Superior Court of Chatham County under case number SPCR26-01124-J6. This means Watson is now the official attorney of record representing Leathers in this case. As Leathers had previously requested a court-appointed attorney at her first appearance, Watson was assigned through the Public Defender’s office at no cost to Leathers.
5/12/26
BOND HEARING HELD — TAMMY LEATHERS GRANTED RELEASE ON UNSECURED JUDICIAL RELEASE
What this means: On May 12, 2026, Judge Tammy Stokes of the Superior Court of Chatham County held a bond hearing on a motion filed by defense attorney Andrette Watson. The court granted the motion and ordered Tammy Leathers released from custody on an unsecured judicial release — meaning she does not have to pay money upfront to be released, but she is bound by specific conditions. A violation of any condition could result in her bond being revoked and her return to custody. The conditions of her release are as follows: she must have absolutely no contact with the named victim in this matter; she must have no new law violations; and she must enter and successfully complete an inpatient substance abuse program at a women’s recovery residence in Vidalia, Georgia. The court further ordered the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office to transport Leathers to that facility on May 13, 2026, between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Assistant District Attorney Whitney O’Brien is listed as the prosecutor on the order.
6/10/26
GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT — 2 COUNTS FILED AGAINST TAMMY LEATHERS
What this means: During the June 2026 term of the Superior Court of Chatham County, a grand jury formally indicted Tammy Leathers on two felony counts under case number SPCR26-01124-J6. A grand jury indictment means a panel of citizens reviewed the evidence presented by the prosecution and found probable cause to believe Tammy Leathers committed the alleged offenses. This is not a conviction — Leathers is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The indictment was signed by District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones of the Eastern Judicial Circuit, with Assistant District Attorney Sean Conlen listed on the case. The two counts are as follows:
Count 1 charges Tammy Leathers with Arson in the First Degree under O.C.G.A. § 16-7-60, accusing her of knowingly damaging, by means of fire, a dwelling house on or about March 20, 2026, without the owner’s consent.
Count 2 charges Tammy Leathers with Criminal Damage to Property in the Second Degree under O.C.G.A. § 16-7-23, accusing her of intentionally damaging a dwelling on or about March 20, 2026, by setting it on fire, causing damage exceeding $500.00, without the owner’s consent.
6/15/26
DEFENSE FILES MOTION TO RESERVE RIGHT TO FILE ADDITIONAL MOTIONS
What this means: On June 15, 2026, defense attorney Andrette Watson filed a motion in the Superior Court of Chatham County asking the court to preserve Tammy Leathers’s right to file additional legal motions later in the case if needed. Watson noted that informal discovery — the process of reviewing evidence shared by the prosecution — is still ongoing and incomplete, and that the complexity of the charges may require further motions as more materials are reviewed. The motion also requests that all future hearings be taken down and recorded by a certified court reporter. This is a routine protective filing that keeps legal options open for the defense as the case develops.
7/30/26
DEFENSE WAIVES ARRAIGNMENT — TAMMY LEATHERS ENTERS NOT GUILTY PLEA
What this means: On July 30, 2026, defense attorney Andrette Watson filed a waiver of arraignment on behalf of Tammy Leathers in the Superior Court of Chatham County. By waiving the formal arraignment hearing, Leathers bypassed the scheduled August 3, 2026 hearing and instead entered a plea of not guilty to both counts of the indictment — Arson in the First Degree and Criminal Damage to Property in the Second Degree. This waiver is a procedural shortcut that allows the case to move forward without the formal in-court arraignment while preserving all of Leathers’s legal rights.
8/3/26
ARRAIGNMENT SCHEDULED FOR TAMMY LEATHERS
What this means: An arraignment has been scheduled for Tammy Leathers on August 3, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the Superior Court of Chatham County. An arraignment is a formal court hearing at which a defendant is officially presented with the charges against them and enters a plea — typically guilty, not guilty, or no contest. This will be Leathers’s first opportunity to formally respond to the grand jury indictment returned in June 2026.
9/18/26
TRIAL DOCKET CALL HELD FOR TAMMY LEATHERS
What this means: On September 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Tammy Leathers appeared for a trial docket call in the Superior Court of Chatham County. A docket call is a brief court appearance where the judge confirms that both sides are ready to proceed to trial, addresses any last-minute issues or motions, and ensures all parties and witnesses are present or accounted for. This hearing typically occurs a few days before the actual trial begins.
4/5/27
JURY TRIAL SCHEDULED FOR TAMMY LEATHERS
What this means: A jury trial has been scheduled for Tammy Leathers on April 5, 2027, at 9:00 AM in the Superior Court of Chatham County. At this trial, a jury will hear evidence from both the prosecution and the defense regarding the charges of Arson in the First Degree and Criminal Damage to Property in the Second Degree. The jury will then determine whether Tammy Leathers is guilty or not guilty of each count. This is the next major proceeding in the case.