Justin Owens

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Name:
Owens, Justin Mardez

Date of Booking:
04/29/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
PROBATION VIOLATION

THEFT BY CONVERSION- FEL

MURDER

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

TRAFFICKING IN COCAINE, ILLEGAL DRUGS, MARIJUANA, OR METHAME

VGCSA SCH 1/2 NON-NARCOTIC MFG/DIST/POSS W INTENT TO DIST

VGCSA MARIJUANA POSSESSION

RECEIPT, POSSESSION OR TRANSPORT OF FIRE

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 03/31/2026 from 2321 and 2323 hours, I, Ofc. K. Dockery was working patrol with the Newnan Police Department and assisting Cpl. J. Phillips with a traffic stop in the area of [200 BLOCK] Greenville St, Newnan Ga. During this traffic stop, I heard multiple gunshots come from east of the traffic stop location (direction of Octavia Pl). Officers began to canvas the area, and 911 began to receive emergency calls from Octavia Pl. Upon arrival on Octavia Pl, a 38-year-old male was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. First aid was provided, and he was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Investigators with the Newnan Police Criminal Investigations Division responded to the scene and took over the investigation.

[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:

5/29/26

COMMITMENT HEARING HELD — JUSTIN MARDEZ OWENS BOUND OVER TO SUPERIOR COURT

What this means: A commitment hearing was held in Coweta County for Justin Mardez Owens. A commitment hearing is a proceeding where a judge reviews whether there is enough evidence to send a case to a higher court. Based on the order, the case was bound over — meaning transferred — to Coweta Superior Court on multiple charges, including murder, aggravated assault, theft by conversion (felony), and trafficking. The court also addressed bond at this hearing. Attorney Tracy Reeves, Jr. is listed as the attorney of record for Justin Mardez Owens. The case was formally moving forward to Superior Court for further proceedings.

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6/8/26

DEFENSE ATTORNEY FILES ENTRY OF APPEARANCE — TRACY REEVES, JR.

What this means: Tracy Reeves, Jr., of the Coweta Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office, formally filed paperwork with Coweta Superior Court identifying himself as the attorney of record for Justin Mardez Owens. This document also requested that the court schedule a preliminary hearing and bond consideration at the earliest available date. Going forward, all court communications regarding Justin Mardez Owens are to be directed to Attorney Reeves.

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6/11/26

GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT — 5 COUNTS FILED AGAINST JUSTIN MARDEZ OWENS

What this means: A Coweta County grand jury formally indicted Justin Mardez Owens on June 11, 2026, during the March 2026 Term, June 2026 Session of Coweta Superior Court. Docket No. 2026R687. Prosecuting officer is listed as Elliah Wilson, under District Attorney John Herbert Cranford, Jr. of the Coweta Judicial Circuit. An indictment means a grand jury reviewed the evidence and determined there was probable cause to formally charge Justin Mardez Owens. He is accused of the following five counts:

Count 1 — Malice Murder (O.C.G.A. 16-5-1(a)): Justin Mardez Owens is accused of intentionally causing the death of another person with malice aforethought.

Count 2 — Felony Murder (O.C.G.A. 16-5-1(c)): Justin Mardez Owens is accused of causing the death of another person during the commission of a felony.

Count 3 — Aggravated Assault (O.C.G.A. 16-5-21): Justin Mardez Owens is accused of assaulting another person with a deadly weapon or in a manner likely to cause serious bodily injury.

Count 4 — Theft by Taking (O.C.G.A. 16-8-2): Justin Mardez Owens is accused of unlawfully taking property belonging to another person with the intent to deprive them of it.

Count 5 — Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon During Crime (O.C.G.A. 16-11-133): Justin Mardez Owens, as a previously convicted felon, is accused of possessing a firearm during the commission of a crime.

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9/3/26

ARRAIGNMENT SCHEDULED IN COWETA SUPERIOR COURT

What this means: Justin Mardez Owens is scheduled to appear for arraignment in Coweta Superior Court on September 3, 2026, at 8:30 AM. An arraignment is the hearing where a defendant is formally read the charges against them and enters a plea — typically guilty, not guilty, or no contest. This will be a significant step in moving case number SUR2026000687 forward.