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Name:
Lancaster, Jerry Lee
Date of Booking:
02/26/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
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 Thursday, 2/26/26, at approximately 11:40 a.m., I, DFCS. Weaver 528, was called into the sergeant’s office by Sgt. Pim 553, to meet with a walk in to the uniform patrol division. Mitch McWorter and Matt Class, who are officers with Gilmer County Animal Control, were in the office with Sgt. Pim.
I walked in and they shared with me, they had a dog that they just picked up from [100 BLOCK] Adventure Trl, with a metal carabiner (typically used to secure connecting ropes, gear and equipment in climbing, sailing, industrial rigging, and rescue operations) through the front thick skin of the canines neck (throat area).
I activated my body camera, and the men shared with me they were at [100 BLOCK] Adventure Trl because Mitch had received a call from a junk removal service in reference to multiple canines left at the home after the tenants were evicted. Mitch stated there was a dog on a very short lead, so he picked him up and brought him up to the animal shelter. When they returned back to the animal shelter with the canine they removed the collar and noticed that there was a metal carabiner through his neck.
[REDACTED], manager of the Gilmer County Animal Shelter, stated on their incident report (#1685) the carabiner was “embedded in neck with chains hanging from it”, the carabiner, chains and lead have been turned into evidence (receipt #19970). [REDACTED] stated they were able to remove the carabiner and flush the wound with chlorhexidine, and the carabiner appeared to be pierced through the canines skin for months because of how the skin was healing around it.
Mitch, Matt, [REDACTED], and the Director of the Gilmer County Animal Shelter were able to identify the canine’s owners, Teresa Bagwell and Jerry Lancaster. There were also other canines at the residence, and animal control took possession of them.
All written statements have been turned in to uniform patrol division (UPD) secretary, and pictures have been sent to [REDACTED].
Mitch had Teresa and Jerry meet him at the Gilmer County Courthouse to sign the paperwork to surrender the canines, and while they were there, I placed both of them under arrest for OCGA 16-12-4 (c) felony aggravated animal cruelty. I handcuffed Teresa behind her back, checked for fit and double locked the handcuffs. I then had Teresa walk to the front of my patrol car where I searched her incident to arrest.
Teresa wanted to talk to me, so DFC Harter-Ray read Teresa her Miranda Rights. I had DFC Harter-Ray 526 put Teresa in the rear seat of my patrol car, where she was buckled in and rear camera activated. Teresa said she has never hurt her animals, and would never hurt them. I asked Teresa how the carabiner ended up through the skin of the canine and she said she found it like that when they came home one day.
I then placed Jerry under arrest, and DFC Harter-Ray handcuffed him in back, checked for fit, and double locked and transported him for me. I transported Teresa to the Gilmer County Adult Detention Center with no incident.
[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:
There is a listed co-defendant in this case. Please see Teresa Bagwell for additional information.
2/27/26
MAGISTRATE COURT BOND DENIAL
What this means: Jerry Lee Lancaster appeared before a magistrate in Gilmer County for a bond hearing. The magistrate denied bond, meaning Lancaster was not released from custody at that time. The denial was based on findings that included the accused posing a significant threat or danger to others, the community, or property, as well as a significant risk of committing a felony while on release.
2/27/26
CASE BOUND OVER TO SUPERIOR COURT
What this means: Following the magistrate court proceedings, Jerry Lee Lancaster’s case was formally transferred to the Superior Court of Gilmer County. This means the magistrate court determined there was enough evidence for the case to move forward at the superior court level, where felony charges are handled.
3/4/26
RULE NISI FOR BOND HEARING ISSUED
What this means: The Superior Court of Gilmer County issued a Rule Nisi — a court order directing Jerry Lee Lancaster to appear before Judge Scruton on March 10, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. for a bond hearing. The warrant number associated with this case is 26-190FW. A Rule Nisi is essentially a formal notice requiring a party to show cause or appear before the court on a specific matter.
3/18/26
ORDER FOR CONTINUANCE
What this means: Judge Allison Scruton of Gilmer County Superior Court signed an order continuing Jerry Lee Lancaster’s bond hearing. The reason noted was that the Public Defender’s office had just been appointed to represent Lancaster and would need time to prepare. The case was rescheduled to April 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. for a bond hearing.
3/18/26
APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
What this means: The Gilmer County Superior Court formally appointed counsel to represent Jerry Lee Lancaster. Lancaster was found to be unable to pay the validation fee of $50.00 to the Gilmer County Magistrate Court prior to the appointment of a public defender. The order was signed on March 18, 2026.
3/23/26
ENTRY OF APPEARANCE — PUBLIC DEFENDER
What this means: The Office of the Circuit Public Defender for the Appalachian Judicial Circuit filed an Entry of Appearance in Gilmer County Superior Court, formally entering as attorney of record for Jerry Lee Lancaster. The entry was signed by Clinton S. Hooker of the Circuit Public Defender’s office.
4/23/26
CONSENT BOND ORDER
What this means: The Superior Court of Gilmer County entered a Consent Bond Order for Jerry Lee Lancaster under Case No. 2026CR-007-BAS and Warrant No. 26-190FW. Lancaster was granted bond in the amount of $10,000.00, cash or property, returnable to June 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. The bond comes with special conditions, including submitting to searches for prohibited substances, submitting to searches of his person and property without a warrant when requested by law enforcement, not violating any laws, and not ingesting any substances prohibited by Georgia or federal law, including alcohol.
5/26/26
WAIVER OF ARRAIGNMENT FILED
What this means: Jerry Lee Lancaster’s defense counsel filed a Waiver of Arraignment in Gilmer County Superior Court. By waiving arraignment, Lancaster waived his right to appear in court on the scheduled arraignment date of June 2, 2026, and waived the formal reading of the charges. This typically means Lancaster and his attorney are prepared to move forward with the case without the formal arraignment proceeding.
6/1/26
JERRY LANCASTER FILES MULTIPLE MOTIONS, WAIVES ARRAIGNMENT, AND PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN GILMER COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
What this means: On June 1, 2026, Jerry Lancaster’s attorney, Katherine L. Knudsen of Knudsen Law, LLC, filed several motions in Gilmer County Superior Court in case number SUCR2026000097. First, Lancaster formally waived his arraignment — meaning he skipped the formal court appearance where charges are read aloud — and entered a plea of NOT GUILTY to the charges against him. He is accused of aggravated cruelty to animals. Second, his attorney filed consolidated motions demanding discovery and an in-camera inspection, which means Lancaster is requesting that the court review evidence privately and that the defense receive access to evidence the prosecution plans to use. The motions also demand that all court proceedings be fully recorded and that Lancaster’s right to file additional motions be preserved. Third, Lancaster filed a notice electing to proceed under O.C.G.A. § 17-16-1 et seq., which is Georgia’s reciprocal discovery statute — this means both sides are required to share evidence with each other ahead of trial.
8/7/26
CRIMINAL TRIAL CALENDAR — MOTIONS AND PLEAS HEARING SCHEDULED
What this means: A motions and pleas hearing in the case of State of Georgia vs. Jerry Lancaster has been scheduled for August 7, 2026, at 9:30 AM in Gilmer County Superior Court. This type of hearing is where the court addresses any outstanding pretrial motions — such as the discovery and evidence motions Lancaster filed on June 1, 2026 — and where any plea discussions may be addressed before the case proceeds to trial.
8/10/26
CRIMINAL JURY TRIAL SCHEDULED TO BEGIN
What this means: If the case is not resolved at the August 7 motions and pleas hearing, a criminal jury trial in the case of State of Georgia vs. Jerry Lancaster, case number SUCR2026000097, is scheduled to begin on August 10, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Gilmer County Superior Court. Lancaster is accused of aggravated cruelty to animals. At trial, a jury would hear the evidence and determine whether he is guilty or not guilty of the charges against him.
8/10/26
SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL — ANDREW MARTIN ENTERS AS ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR JERRY LEE LANCASTER
What this means: On August 10, 2026, a Notice of Substitution of Counsel was filed and e-filed in Gilmer County Superior Court in case number SUCR2026000097. Andrew Martin of the North Central Alternate Defender, Office of the Alternate Defender for the North Central Region, replaced prior counsel as the attorney of record for Jerry Lee Lancaster. All future court notices, pleadings, and orders in this case are to be directed to Martin’s office. The filing also includes a renewed notice of Lancaster’s election to proceed under O.C.G.A. § 17-16-1 et seq., Georgia’s reciprocal discovery statute, meaning both the defense and prosecution are required to share evidence with each other ahead of trial.
8/11/26
BOND ORDER ISSUED — JERRY LEE LANCASTER RELEASED ON $5,000 SIGNATURE BOND WITH CONDITIONS INCLUDING WAIVER OF EXTRADITION
What this means: On August 11, 2026, a bond order was issued in Gilmer County Superior Court in case number SUCR2026000097, setting a $5,000 signature bond for Jerry Lee Lancaster. A signature bond means Lancaster is released based on his signed promise to appear in court. The order includes terms and conditions Lancaster must follow while out on bond, and notably includes a waiver of extradition, meaning that if Lancaster leaves Georgia and fails to appear, he cannot legally contest being returned to Georgia to face these charges.