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Name:
Motes, Jessica Maria
Date of Booking:
10/27/2025
Reason(s) For Booking:
CONCEALING DEATH
Article:
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:
12/31/25
JESSICA MARIA MOTES FILES MOTION FOR DISCOVERY
What this means: Jessica Maria Motes, through her attorney Hammond Law, filed several motions requesting access to evidence and information from the prosecution. These include requests for copies of the indictment, witness lists, physical evidence that will be tested, statements made by witnesses, and any evidence that might be helpful to her defense. This is standard procedure in criminal cases where the defendant has the right to see the evidence against them before trial.
12/31/25
JESSICA MARIA MOTES OPTS INTO GEORGIA DISCOVERY RULES
What this means: Jessica Maria Motes formally chose to participate in Georgia’s discovery process, which means she agrees to provide certain information to the prosecution in exchange for receiving discovery materials from them. By opting in, she must provide the State with copies of her witnesses and witness statements, but she also gets broader access to the State’s evidence.
1/12/26
GRAND JURY RETURNS TRUE BILL OF INDICTMENT AGAINST JESSICA MARIA MOTES
What this means: A Hall County grand jury formally charged Jessica Maria Motes with five felony counts: malice murder, felony murder, cruelty to children in the first degree, aggravated battery, and concealing death of another. The indictment alleges she caused the death of a child, between October 25-26, 2025, by subjecting the victim to blunt force trauma and exposing her to fentanyl, methamphetamine, and xylazine. The grand jury found probable cause to believe Jessica Maria Motes committed these crimes.
1/13/26
NOTICE OF ARRAIGNMENT ISSUED FOR JESSICA MARIA MOTES
What this means: The Hall County Superior Court notified Jessica Maria Motes that her arraignment hearing is scheduled for March 2, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Courtroom 403. At this hearing, she will be formally read the charges and asked to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Her attorney Hammond Law was copied on this notice.
1/14/26
STATE FILES MOTION TO SCHEDULE FIRST PROCEEDING
What this means: District Attorney Lee Darragh filed a motion asking the court to schedule a “First Proceeding” because this case is potentially death penalty eligible due to the aggravated battery charge and the heinous nature of the alleged crimes. Georgia law requires this special proceeding in death penalty cases to determine whether the State will actually seek the death penalty. The prosecution has not yet filed a notice of intent to seek death.
1/28/26
COURT APPROVES RECORDING REQUEST FOR WSB-TV
What this means: Judge Lindsay H. Burton approved a request from WSB-TV to use recording equipment in the courtroom during Jessica Maria Motes’ arraignment proceedings on March 2, 2026. The media outlet will be able to record video from a pool camera in the courtroom under specific court guidelines.
2/27/26
COURT APPROVES SECOND RECORDING REQUEST
What this means: The court approved another media request to use recording devices during court proceedings in Jessica Maria Motes’ case. This was filed by Law&Crime Network’s assignment editor Katie DeJong, showing continued media attention to the case.
3/2/26
STATE FILES NOTICE OF INTENT TO SEEK DEATH PENALTY
What this means: District Attorney Lee Darragh officially notified the court that the State of Georgia intends to seek the death penalty against Jessica Maria Motes. The notice cites two grounds: that the murder was committed while she was engaged in aggravated battery, and that the murder was “outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible, or inhuman” involving torture, depravity of mind, or aggravated battery to the victim. This makes it a capital case where Jessica Maria Motes could face execution if convicted.
3/2/26
JESSICA MARIA MOTES REJECTS PLEA OFFER AT ARRAIGNMENT
What this means: At the arraignment hearing before Judge Lindsay H. Burton, Jessica Maria Motes was offered a plea deal by the prosecution in exchange for a life sentence without the possibility of parole. She rejected this offer through her attorneys Hammond Law and Thomas A. Dowdy. After rejecting the plea, the State confirmed it would file a notice of intent to seek the death penalty. The court provided both parties with information about the process for selecting a presiding judge in death penalty cases.
3/3/26
COURT ORDERS JUDGE SELECTION PROCESS FOR DEATH PENALTY CASE
What this means: Since the State filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty, the court issued an order establishing the process for randomly selecting and assigning a presiding judge from the Northeastern Judicial Circuit to handle Jessica Maria Motes’ case. The selection will take place on March 17, 2026, at 3:00 PM in Courtroom 401 at the Hall County Courthouse. This is required by Georgia law to ensure impartial assignment of judges in capital cases.
3/4/26
STATUS HEARING HELD AND ARRAIGNMENT CONTINUED
What this means: Judge Lindsay H. Burton held a status hearing regarding Jessica Maria Motes’ case. Since the court may not be the presiding judge once the judge selection process occurs, the arraignment currently scheduled for March 2, 2026, at 9:00 AM was continued to a date to be determined after the new judge is selected. A status hearing and first proceeding were scheduled for March 2, 2026, at 9:00 AM instead.
3/31/26
CALENDAR CALL HEARING SCHEDULED FOR JESSICA MARIA MOTES
What this means: A calendar call hearing is scheduled for Jessica Maria Motes at 8:30 AM in Hall County Superior Court. This is a procedural hearing where the court will review the case status, set future hearing dates, and address any scheduling matters. Since Jessica Maria Motes is facing the death penalty and the court is still in the process of selecting a new presiding judge, this calendar call will likely involve coordinating the timeline for upcoming proceedings in her capital murder case.
03/17/26
JUDGE LINDSAY H. BURTON ASSIGNED TO JESSICA MARIA MOTES DEATH PENALTY CASE
What this means: Following the judge selection process, Judge Lindsay H. Burton of the Superior Court for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit was randomly assigned to preside over Jessica Maria Motes’ capital murder case. The assignment was made through a manual random ball selection machine, as required by Georgia law for death penalty cases. Judge Burton will now be responsible for all aspects of the case including its management and disposition.
03/18/26
JESSICA MARIA MOTES FILES MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE
What this means: Jessica Maria Motes, through her attorneys Hammond Law, filed a motion asking the court to delay proceedings in her case. The defense explained that while the prosecution has provided a significant amount of discovery materials, they have not yet provided the autopsy report. The defense argued they need access to the autopsy to fully and fairly evaluate the plea offer that remains open from the District Attorney’s office. They requested that all proceedings be continued until the autopsy is provided, citing their constitutional rights to a fair trial and effective assistance of counsel.
04/17/26
HALL COUNTY CLERK NOTIFIES GEORGIA SUPREME COURT OF DEATH PENALTY CASE AGAINST JESSICA MARIA MOTES
What this means: Hall County Clerk of Court Mark Pettitt sent a certified letter to the Supreme Court of Georgia at the Nathan Deal Judicial Center in Atlanta, formally notifying the state’s highest court that the State of Georgia has filed a Notice of Intent to Seek the Death Penalty against Jessica Maria Motes in Case No. 2026CR24LHB. Georgia law requires that the Supreme Court be notified when the death penalty is being sought in a case, as the Supreme Court has automatic review jurisdiction over all death penalty cases in the state. A certified copy of the State’s Notice of Intent to Seek the Death Penalty was enclosed with the letter.
05/01/26
COURT SCHEDULES FIRST PROCEEDING FOR JESSICA MARIA MOTES
What this means: Judge Lindsay H. Burton scheduled Jessica Maria Motes’ First Proceeding for May 1, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Superior Courtroom #403 at the Hall County Courthouse in Gainesville, Georgia. This is a required hearing in Georgia death penalty cases under Uniform Superior Court Rule 34, where the court and parties will address procedural matters specific to capital cases before moving forward with trial proceedings.
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