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Name:
Haynes, Michael Allen
Date of Booking:
07/02/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
ARMED ROBBERY
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
THEFT BY RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY- FELONY
POSSESSION OF FIREARM OR KNIFE DURING COMMISSION OF OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT CER FELONIES
CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY – 1ST DEGREE
ARMED ROBBERY
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 11-19-2025 at 1411 hours I was dispatched to 706 E Oglethorpe Hwy (Suburban Studios) in reference to a gunshot wound.
Upon arrival I observed one male (Michael Haynes) on the second floor limping near the guard rail holding a towel against his leg. I also observed another male [REDACTED BY AGENCY] with blood on his arm. I had the two males meet me at the staircase while I waited for additional officers and EMS to arrive.
Mr Haynes had, what appeared to be, a gunshot wound on his left leg near his knee that was not actively bleeding. I did not locate an exit wound anywhere on his leg. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had what appeared to be a gunshot wound on his left forearm near his wrist. This had an exit and entry wound on either side of his arm.
Mr Haynes stated he and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] were just walking when he heard “pops” and felt pain in his leg. He and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] started running toward Suburban Studios at that time. He stated he believed it came from a blue dodge charger that had sped away but did not see the driver or anyone else inside the vehicle.
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] did not want to provide his name and date of birth but advised he was [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. He provided his name to Sgt Roberts #128 when his mother [REDACTED] arrived on scene to take him to the hospital. He did not provide a statement to me about the incident.
I spoke with two individuals who had some knowledge of what happened, [WITNESS #1] and [WITNESS #2].
Mr [WITNESS #1] stated he was walking from Enmarket (715 E Oglethorpe Hwy) back to Suburban Studios room [REDACTED]. He stated he heard what he believed to be gunshots. He stated he observed a blue dodge charger speed westbound on E Oglethorpe Hwy. He stated as he got closer to the building for Suburban Studios, he observed Mr Haynes and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] running from the area of Days Inn (726 E Oglethorpe Hwy) toward Suburban Studios.
Ms [WITNESS #2] stated she was in her room (room [REDACTED]) at Suburban Studios when she heard loud pops, which she believed were gunshots. She went outside to look around when she saw [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and Mr Haynes come running from the Days Inn parking lot toward Suburban Studios.
EMS arrived and transported Mr Haynes to memorial in Savannah. Detectives and other officers arrived in the area and began canvassing the area for evidence, locating three spent casings, marijuana scattered throughout the sidewalk, and a teal handgun. While video footage was being observed by Cpl Riddick #120 from Days Inn, he provided a picture of the blue dodge charger leaving the scene. However, the license plate was not visible on camera.
I assisted with scene security while detectives investigated further. Ofc Siegel #169 made contact with the initial complainant [WITNESS #3] who stated she did not hear the gunshots but two males ([REDACTED BY AGENCY] and Haynes) ran in to the lobby of Suburban Studios and Mr Haynes knelt down. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] yelled to Mr Haynes that they had to go. Then the two ran out of the lobby and she called 911.
Detectives 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:
7/8/26
MICHAEL ALLEN HAYNES ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH SEVEN FELONIES IN LIBERTY COUNTY
What this means: Michael Allen Haynes was arrested and brought before the Liberty County Magistrate Court for a First Appearance Hearing — the initial court proceeding where a defendant is formally advised of the charges against them and their rights. Haynes was charged with seven felony offenses under the following warrants: Armed Robbery (16-8-41), Aggravated Assault (16-5-21) on three separate warrants, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property (16-8-7), Possession of a Firearm or Knife During the Commission of or Attempt to Commit Certain Felonies (16-11-106), and Criminal Damage to Property in the First Degree (18-7-22). At the hearing, Haynes indicated he was requesting a public defender and asked the court to contact the Public Defender’s Office on his behalf.
7/8/26
BOND DENIED — MICHAEL ALLEN HAYNES ORDERED HELD IN LIBERTY COUNTY JAIL
What this means: Following his First Appearance Hearing, a Liberty County Magistrate Court judge denied bond for Michael Allen Haynes on all seven felony warrants. The order directed that Haynes be held in the Liberty County Jail without bond and that the matter be referred to Superior Court for further proceedings, including arraignment, trial, and final disposition. This means Haynes remained in custody with no option for release at this stage.
7/16/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY MALCOLM PAGE ENTERS APPEARANCE FOR MICHAEL ALLEN HAYNES
What this means: Assistant Public Defender Malcolm Page, of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office in Hinesville, Georgia, filed a formal Notice of Appearance in the Superior Court of Liberty County, Case No. 2026-PR-308-MH, indicating he would be representing Michael Allen Haynes going forward in this case.
7/16/26
MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING AND BOND HEARING SCHEDULED FOR 8/24/26
What this means: Defense attorney Malcolm Page filed a motion on behalf of Michael Allen Haynes requesting a preliminary hearing and a bond hearing. A Rule Nisi — a court order directing that the motion be formally heard — was issued the same day by the Superior Court of Liberty County. The hearing was scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. before the Honorable Judges Robert L. Russell III, Charles P. Rose Jr., and D. Jay Stewart, Glen A. Cheney of the Superior Court of Liberty County. A preliminary hearing is a proceeding where a judge determines whether there is enough evidence to require the defendant to stand trial. A bond hearing gives the defense an opportunity to argue that Haynes should be released from custody while the case proceeds.
7/17/26
ORIGINAL ARREST WARRANTS ADMINISTRATIVELY DISMISSED
What this means: The State of Georgia, through Assistant District Attorney Donna Sims of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit, filed an Administrative Dismissal of the original criminal warrants against Michael Allen Haynes — Warrant No. 25-WF-005612C — without prejudice. The reason checked on the form: the defendant was indicted by a Grand Jury on other more applicable charges. “Without prejudice” means the dismissal does not prevent the State from pursuing the case — it simply closes out the original warrant-based charges because the Grand Jury process has taken over. This is a routine procedural step that occurs when a case moves from the warrant stage to a formal indictment.
7/23/26
CONFLICT ATTORNEY KAREN N. BROWN ENTERS APPEARANCE FOR MICHAEL ALLEN HAYNES
What this means: Karen N. Brown, Managing Attorney with the Southeast Region Alternate Public Defender’s Office in Springfield, Georgia, filed an Entry of Appearance in the Superior Court of Liberty County, Case No. 26-PR-308-MH, on July 23, 2026. The Alternate Public Defender’s Office steps in when the primary Public Defender’s Office has a conflict of interest — for example, if the office is already representing a co-defendant in the same case. Brown’s entry indicates she replaced or joined the defense team as counsel of record for Michael Allen Haynes.
8/10/26
GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT — 6 COUNTS FILED AGAINST MICHAEL ALLEN HAYNES
What this means: A Liberty County Grand Jury returned a Bill of Indictment during the February Term, 2026, filed in the Superior Court of Liberty County, charging Michael Allen Haynes with multiple felony offenses. The indictment was returned to open court on August 10, 2026. A grand jury indictment means a panel of citizens reviewed the evidence presented by prosecutors and found probable cause to formally charge the defendant. This replaces the original arrest warrants as the official charging document.
Michael Allen Haynes is charged with the following counts: Count 1 — Armed Robbery (O.C.G.A. 16-8-41), Felony Count 2 — Aggravated Assault (O.C.G.A. 16-5-21), Felony Count 3 — Aggravated Assault (O.C.G.A. 16-5-21), Felony Count 4 — Aggravated Assault (O.C.G.A. 16-5-21), Felony Count 5 — Possession of Firearm During Commission of a Felony (O.C.G.A. 16-11-106), Felony Count 6 — Criminal Damage to Property in the Second Degree (O.C.G.A. 16-7-23), Felony
The indictment was signed by District Attorney Billy J. Nelson Jr. of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit and filed with the Liberty County Clerk of Superior Court.
8/24/26
CONSOLIDATED MOTIONS FILED BY DEFENSE COUNSEL KAREN N. BROWN
What this means: On August 24, 2026, defense attorney Karen N. Brown filed consolidated motions on behalf of Michael Allen Haynes in the Superior Court of Liberty County. Consolidated motions combine multiple related requests into a single filing for efficiency. The specific motions filed are not detailed in this update, but based on the case context, they likely include the motion for bond and motion for preliminary hearing that were previously scheduled for hearing on this date.
8/24/26
BOND AND PRELIMINARY HEARING HELD IN SUPERIOR COURT OF LIBERTY COUNTY
What this means: The Superior Court of Liberty County held a hearing on August 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. on the criminal non-jury trial calendar to address the defense’s motion for bond and preliminary hearing on behalf of Michael Allen Haynes. This hearing gave the defense the opportunity to argue that Haynes should be released from custody while the case proceeds, and to challenge whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial. The outcome of this hearing is not specified in this update.
9/21/26
ARRAIGNMENT HEARING SCHEDULED FOR 9/21/26 AT 10:00 A.M.
What this means: An arraignment hearing has been scheduled for September 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the Superior Court of Liberty County for Michael Allen Haynes. At an arraignment, the defendant is formally read the charges against him and asked to enter a plea — guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere (no contest). This is a critical procedural step that typically occurs after the preliminary hearing and before trial preparation begins.