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Name:
Burke, Veronica
Date of Booking:
01/23/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Aggravated Battery-Family Violence (F)
Criminal Trespass-Family Violence (m)
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 23 January 2026, at approximately 0035 hours, I, Deputy Bobby Kitchens, Paulding County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), responded to [60 BLOCK] Garretts Drive, Douglasville, GA, 30134, regarding a domestic disturbance.
Upon arrival, I observed a black female, later identified as [VICTIM #1], on the front porch of the residence. [VICTIM #1] had blood all over her face and clothing. I observed a laceration on her forehead, and another laceration on the right side of her nose. I obesrved swelling on her face around the eyes, and swelling on her forehead.
[VICTIM #1] provided the following statement: She and her mother, Veronica Burke, had an argument earlier tonight in her mothers bedroom. During the argument, she knocked some things over that were on a dresser, and her mother began hitting her. She punched back, and the two began fighting. They separated, and she went to her bedroom and closed the door.
Everything was quiet, and she thought everything was fine, so she sat in the floor and began fixing her hair for work in the morning. Her mother opened her door and entered her room and started beating her with something stuffed in a sock. She begged her mother to stop and told her she was bleeding, but her mother kept hitting her with the sock stuffed with something. Her mother left her room, and she couldn’t see due to all the blood in her face and eyes. She ran to her brother’s bedroom, [WITNESS #1], crying and asked him to call the police.
I made contact with Veronica Burke at the front door of the residence. Veronica provided the following statement: She and [VICTIM #1] had a disagreement, but does not know where it came from. [VICTIM #1] started hitting her during the argument, and [VICTIM #1] thought she got the best of her. She did go into [VICTIM #1]’s room and did hit [VICTIM #1] with something in a sock. She barricaded herself in her bedroom after hitting [VICTIM #1] with the object. She does not know what started the argument earlier this evening. [VICTIM #1] just came into the bedroom and began knocking items over. After [VICTIM #1] knocked items over, she began hitting her, and the two began fighting. After the fight, she did go into [VICTIM #1]’s room and hit her with a sock filled with items.
Veronica handed me a black and orange sock filled with multiple items. The improvised weapon felt solid. I sat the sock down on the desk near the bedroom door. Veronica stated “I’m defending myself in my house.” I escorted Veronica back down to the livingroom and placed her in handcuffs. I checked the handcuffs for fit and double locked. Veronica was escorted to my patrol car (S-258) and placed in the rear seat. I returned to the residence to observe the sock and its contents.
I retrieved the sock, walked outside to the front porch, and began examining the contents. I removed a glass jar with potpourri, a clear plastic bag with multiple metal door hinges and large wood screws, and a plastic bag containing a metal wall hook. The sock and it’s contents were recorded on my body-worn camera.
I spoke with [WITNESS #1], who provided the following statement: He did not see the altercation take place, but heard Veronica and [VICTIM #1] arguing and fighting, but he does not know who hit whom first. It did stop for a while, and then a door opened and something was swinging around, and heard someone yell “Ow ow ow ow”.
I transported Veronica to the Paulding County Jail, where I released her to the deputies at the jial.
[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:
1/27/26
VERONICA BURKE RELEASED ON APPEARANCE BOND
What this means: Veronica Burke was released from custody after posting a $9,000 appearance bond through a bonding company. The bond was signed on January 27, 2026, and filed in the Superior Court of Paulding County. By signing the bond, Burke agreed to appear at all scheduled court dates. Failure to appear could result in the bond being forfeited and a bench warrant issued for her arrest. The bond covered both the Aggravated Battery – Family Violence charge (Warrant #26682) and the Criminal Trespass – Unlawful Purpose charge (Warrant #26681).
8/12/26
GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT — 1 COUNT FILED AGAINST VERONICA BURKE
What this means: A Paulding County grand jury formally indicted Veronica Burke during the July Term 2026, returning a true bill on August 12, 2026, in case number 26-CR-000522-P3 in Paulding Superior Court. District Attorney Robert S. Lane signed the indictment.
Count 1 charges Veronica Burke with Aggravated Battery – Family Violence under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-24. The grand jury accuses Burke of allegedly causing serious bodily harm to a family member by striking the alleged victim on and about the face on or about January 23, 2026, in Paulding County, allegedly resulting in serious disfigurement to the alleged victim’s face.
An indictment means a grand jury found enough evidence to formally charge Burke and send the case to Superior Court for trial. It is not a conviction. Burke is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
8/13/26
STATE’S LEAD PROSECUTOR ENTERS APPEARANCE IN VERONICA BURKE CASE
What this means: Assistant District Attorney Christina Morgan-Young formally entered her appearance as lead counsel for the State of Georgia in case number 26-CR-000522-P3 on August 13, 2026. The filing, signed by Morgan-Young and e-filed with the Paulding County Superior Court Clerk, designates her as the prosecutor responsible for all pleadings and official court notices going forward in the case against Veronica Burke.
8/14/26
ARRAIGNMENT NOTICE ISSUED — HEARING SCHEDULED FOR 9/1/26
What this means: On August 14, 2026, the Paulding Superior Court issued an arraignment notice scheduling Veronica Burke’s arraignment for September 1, 2026, at 9:00 AM. An arraignment is a formal court hearing where a defendant is advised of the charges against them and enters a plea.
9/1/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE; ARRAIGNMENT WAIVED; NOT GUILTY PLEA ENTERED
What this means: On September 1, 2026 — the date of the scheduled arraignment — attorney Keenan Parsons filed an Entry of Appearance as defense counsel for Veronica Burke in case number 26-CR-000522-P3 in Paulding Superior Court. Parsons also filed a Motion to Invoke the Standing Order in Criminal Cases, which is a standard defense motion that triggers the prosecution’s obligation to share evidence and follow established court procedures for criminal cases.
Along with that filing, Parsons submitted a Waiver of Arraignment on Burke’s behalf, meaning Burke did not need to appear in court that day for the formal reading of charges. A not guilty plea was entered, which is the standard starting point — it preserves all of Burke’s legal rights and does not prevent a different resolution later.
9/14/26
CERTIFICATE OF DISCOVERY PROVIDED BY THE STATE
What this means: On September 14, 2026, the State of Georgia, through the prosecution, provided a Certificate of Discovery to Veronica Burke’s defense in case number 26-CR-000522-P3. This certificate documents that the State has shared evidence and materials related to the charges against Burke — including police reports, witness statements, physical evidence, and other investigative materials — as required by Georgia law and the Standing Order in Criminal Cases that was invoked at Burke’s September 1 arraignment. The certificate serves as proof that discovery obligations have been met at this stage of the case.