Get notified by email when this case is updated.
1 following this caseThe Georgia Gazette is actively monitoring this case. Check back for the latest updates as more information becomes available.
The Georgia Gazette is actively monitoring this case. Check back for the latest updates as more information becomes available.
Name:
Collins, Justin Lee
Date of Booking:
01/02/2025
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 01/01/2025, at approximately 2340 hours, I, Dep. Salter, was dispatched to [1200 BLOCK] Tucker Road in reference to animal cruelty.
Upon arrival, I made contact with the reporting party/witness, [WITNESS #1], who advised that the incident occurred at [200 BLOCK] County Line Road. [WITNESS #1] stated that his brother, Justin Collins, was the offender in this incident. [WITNESS #1] advised that he and his family recently moved to [200 BLOCK] County Line Road with Justin. [WITNESS #1] stated that he was outside with Justin by a bonfire enjoying the evening. [WITNESS #1] advised he believed that something was odd with Justin’s puppy’s behavior. [WITNESS #1] stated that whenever Justin would get near the puppy, the puppy would cower down, whimper, tuck its tail, and lower its head. [WITNESS #1] advised that the puppy appeared to exhibiting behavior common with abuse. [WITNESS #1] stated that the puppy did not react in the same manner when only he was present. [WITNESS #1] advised that he told Justin that he was going to go inside due to the time. [WITNESS #1] stated that he had a gut feeling that Justin was going to abuse the dog once he left. Due to [WITNESS #1]’s gut feeling, he advised that he left the sliding glass door ajar so he could hear outside.
[WITNESS #1] stated that when he entered the residence, he could hear the puppy yelping in pain. [WITNESS #1] advised he exited the residence and observed Justin pushing the puppy towards the open flame. [WITNESS #1] stated that he walked around outside to get a better view of what Justin was doing. [WITNESS #1] advised he heard Justin say, “is that hot enough for you,” towards the puppy. [WITNESS #1] stated that the puppy was very close to the fire and was being tortured by Justin. [WITNESS #1] advised that Justin then picked up the puppy and began choking the puppy around the neck. [WITNESS #1] stated he intervened and yelled at Justin to stop. [WITNESS #1] advised that Justin complied and turned the puppy over to [WITNESS #1]. [WITNESS #1] advised that to prevent domestic issues between Justin, he took his family and left the scene. [WITNESS #1] stated that he does not believe this was the first time Justin had abused the puppy. [WITNESS #1] advised that the puppy limps on its left rear foot, which was not present recently.
[WITNESS #1] allowed me to view the puppy, and I observed that the puppy was covered in soot. I observed that the puppy’s fur was burned away on the left flank of the body with the burnt fur going all the way down to the tail. I observed that the puppy would not favor the left hind leg indicating an unknown skeletal or muscular injury to that extremity. I observed that the knee joint on the left hind leg appeared to be out of place due to the misshape of the knee compared to the right hind leg. I observed that the puppy’s left eye was bloodied which is common with a burst blood vessel which could have been induced by strangulation.
I attempted contact with Justin at his residence and in the surrounding area but was unable to contact him to obtain his side of the story.
I made contact with Judge Sammons of the Houston County Magistrate Court on 01/02/2025. I obtained warrants against Justin for Aggravated Animal Cruelty.
On 01/02/2025, at 1938 hours, Sgt. Harper, Dep. Casey, Dep. Windham, and I attempted to serve Justin with the warrant I obtained earlier. Upon arrival, I observed Justin’s white 1997 GMC Sierra (GA Tag # [REDACTED BY AGENCY], VIN: [REDACTED]) parked at the residence. I observed Justin outside of the residence. We parked near the house to make a tactical approach. As deputies were making our approach, I heard the door slam, and the lights of the residence turn off. Due to the nature of the incident and that Justin was supposedly armed with several firearms, deputies backed away from the scene further down the road.
A few minutes elapsed and I observed Justin’s GMC travel northbound on Loggins Road, turning east onto Highway 26. I made a traffic stop on the GMC with the final stop being [1200 BLOCK] East Highway 26. I was aware that the residents of [1200 BLOCK] East Highway 26 were associates of Justin. A felony stop was performed on the GMC and Justin was identified as the driver. Justin was instructed out of the GMC. Justin was then placed into custody with his hands affixed behind his back with handcuffs that were checked for proper fit and double-locked. Justin was searched incident to arrest with no contraband being located on his person. Justin was secured in the rear seat of Dep. Casey’s patrol vehicle and seatbelted in for safety. Justin requested his GMC be turned over to the residents of [1200 BLOCK] East Highway 26. Justin was transported to the Houston County Detention Center without incident. A booking information form was completed for Justin. Justin was turned over to jail staff custody.
[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:
1/2/25
WARRANT AND BOND SET
What this means: Justin Lee Collins was issued a warrant in Houston County, Georgia, and a bond amount of $5,000 was set for his release. This is typically done when formal charges are filed and the defendant needs to post bail to be released from custody while awaiting trial.
4/9/25
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTRY OF APPEARANCE
What this means: Greg Howard Bell officially entered his appearance as Justin Lee Collins’ defense attorney in case 2025C0062444 in Houston County Superior Court. This formal filing notifies the court and prosecution that Bell is representing Collins on the aggravated animal cruelty charge.
4/9/25
STANDARD DEMURRER FILED
What this means: Justin Lee Collins’ attorney Greg Bell filed a demurrer challenging the charging document in the aggravated animal cruelty case. A demurrer argues that even if all the facts alleged are true, they don’t legally support the charges. Bell is claiming the charges don’t sufficiently identify what crimes Collins allegedly committed and fail to inform him of the specific conduct he’s accused of.
4/9/25
DISCOVERY MOTION FILED
What this means: Justin Lee Collins’ defense team filed a motion requesting access to evidence the prosecution plans to use, including witness statements, scientific reports, Collins’ criminal history, and any materials that might help his defense. This is standard procedure allowing the defense to review the state’s evidence before trial.
4/9/25
BRADY MOTION FILED
What this means: Defense attorney Greg Bell filed a motion demanding that prosecutors turn over any evidence that could help prove Justin Lee Collins’ innocence or undermine the prosecution’s case. This motion, based on the Brady v. Maryland Supreme Court case, requires prosecutors to share evidence favorable to the defense, including witness statements and test results that might show Collins’ innocence.
4/9/25
MOTION TO SUPPRESS STATEMENTS FILED
What this means: Justin Lee Collins’ attorney is asking the court to exclude any statements Collins made to law enforcement after his arrest. Bell argues these statements were made without proper legal counsel and requests a Jackson v. Denno hearing to determine if Collins voluntarily waived his rights before being questioned.
4/9/25
MOTION IN LIMINE TO EXCLUDE UNCHARGED CONDUCT FILED
What this means: Justin Lee Collins’ defense team is asking the judge to prohibit the prosecution from mentioning any alleged misconduct that isn’t directly related to the aggravated animal cruelty charges. They argue that bringing up unrelated conduct would be prejudicial and irrelevant to determining Collins’ guilt or innocence on the current charges.
4/9/25
MOTION IN LIMINE TO EXCLUDE CRIMINAL HISTORY FILED
What this means: Defense attorney Greg Bell is requesting that the court prevent prosecutors from mentioning Justin Lee Collins’ prior criminal history or any past interactions with law enforcement during the trial. The defense argues this information would be prejudicial and irrelevant to the current animal cruelty case.
4/9/25
MOTION IN LIMINE TO EXCLUDE PROBATION STATUS FILED
What this means: Justin Lee Collins’ attorney is asking the judge to prevent anyone from mentioning that Collins was on probation or parole at the time of his arrest or currently. Bell argues that revealing Collins’ probation status would unfairly prejudice the jury and violate his right to a fair trial.
4/9/25
MOTION TO REVEAL PLEA AGREEMENTS FILED
What this means: Defense attorney Greg Bell is demanding that prosecutors disclose any plea deals, immunity agreements, or other considerations offered to witnesses who will testify against Justin Lee Collins. This motion seeks to reveal potential bias in witness testimony that could result from agreements with the state in exchange for cooperation.
11/21/25
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ASSIGNMENT CONFIRMED
What this means: The court record officially shows that Greg Bell has been assigned as Justin Lee Collins’ defense attorney in the aggravated animal cruelty case in Houston County Superior Court. This confirms Bell’s representation of Collins in case 2025C0062444. find out if any plea deals exist. These motions were meant to protect the defendant’s rights and prepare for trial.
4/16/25
DEFENSE FILES MOTION TO REVEAL THE DEAL — JUSTIN LEE COLLINS
What this means: Justin Lee Collins’ defense team filed a motion in Houston County Superior Court asking the judge to order the prosecution to disclose any agreements, deals, or other considerations made between the State of Georgia — including the District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office — and any witnesses expected to testify in this case. The defense argues that any such arrangements could affect a witness’s credibility and that Collins is constitutionally entitled to that information under both the U.S. Constitution and the Georgia Constitution. This type of motion is rooted in a legal principle established by the U.S. Supreme Court case *Giglio v. United States*, which requires prosecutors to turn over evidence that could be used to challenge a witness’s reliability or motive to testify. The court has not yet ruled on this motion.
5/12/26
PROSECUTOR ASSIGNED — BRANDI HOLLAND
What this means: Brandi Holland, an attorney with the District Attorney’s office in Houston County, was officially assigned to prosecute the case against Justin Lee Collins (Case No. 2025C0062444), which involves a charge of aggravated cruelty to animals. This means Holland will be the lead attorney representing the State of Georgia going forward.