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Name:
Watson, Johnny Lee Jr
Date of Booking:
03/29/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Warrant Arrest – Other Agency
False Imprisonment
Probation Violation
Aggravated Assault
Battery – Family Violence
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 Friday, 02/20/2026, at approximately 1355 hours, I Deputy Lackey responded non-emergency to “Spalding County Fire Department Station 7,” at 765 Vaughn School Road, in reference to a domestic that had already occurred.
Upon arrival, I made contact with the victim, Ms. [VICTIM #1] (W/F DOB: /1970), and the victim’s mother, Ms. [WITNESS #1] (W/F DOB: /1946). Ms. [VICTIM #1] explained that at approximately 1230 hours, she had gotten into an altercation with her ex-boyfriend, whom she used to live with, Mr. Johnny Watson (W/M DOB: /1978). She stated he physically assaulted her at her home address, [1500 BLOCK] Patterson Road Lot [REDACTED].
She explained that the night prior, on Thursday, 02/19/2026, Mr. Watson was working on his minibike when a piece of metal got into his eye. Ms. [VICTIM #1] treated his injury and allowed him to stay the night at her residence. In the morning, she gave him more medicine for his eye and he left to get cigarettes.
Upon arriving back at Ms. [VICTIM #1] residence, she explained Mr. Watson was already in a foul mood because of his eye. While watching television, she pointed out to Mr. Watson that he was acting like one of the personalities on the screen and that was the reason they broke up. She explained that he became upset by her comment, and a verbal altercation ensued. She then told Mr. Watson she was going to her bedroom because it is cooler in there. Mr. Watson told her that it was hotter in her bedroom than the living room and she needed to stay with him.
Ms. [VICTIM #1] then got her phone out and called her mom, Ms. [WITNESS #1]. When putting the phone up to her ear and attempting to stand up, she explained Mr. Watson grabbed her by the throat and forced her to sit back down. Upon further questioning, Ms. [VICTIM #1] explained her airway and ability to breathe were obstructed when he grabbed her.
Upon Ms. [WITNESS #1] answering the phone, Mr. Watson slapped her in the hand, knocking the phone away from her. While attempting to find her phone, Ms. [VICTIM #1] explained she got hit hard in her nose, which was already broken. Ms. [VICTIM #1] explained she is legally blind and already suffered an injury to her nose by walking into a window. She also explained she was unable to identify the manner in which she was hit by him because she does not have adequate sight.
During this physical altercation, Ms. [VICTIM #1] remembered hearing Mr. Watson say, “That’s all your family does is call the police, because you’re a stupid bit*h.” When she finally found her phone, she went to get her shoes to leave her residence. She recalled Mr. Watson then saying, “You’re not going anywhere.” Ms. [VICTIM #1] was able to grab her shoes and run outside of her residence while barefoot. She explained that she walked down Patterson Road, where Ms. [WITNESS #1] arrived shortly after to pick her up.
At approximately 1348 hours, Ms. [WITNESS #1] convinced Ms. [VICTIM #1] to be checked out medically by firefighters at Fire Station 7. They ran her vitals and notified law enforcement of the situation. Ms. [VICTIM #1] had a large visible red mark on her nose and smaller visible red marks around her neck. I took pictures of the affected areas and upploaded these photos to the report.
Upon interviewing Ms. [WITNESS #1] separately, she explained she was on the phone with Ms. [VICTIM #1] during some of the altercation. She explained most of what was said between the two was unintelligible, but she did recall hearing Ms. [VICTIM #1] ask her to come get her. She also remembered hearing Ms. [VICTIM #1] state, “No, don’t hit me,” and a slapping noise shortly after. After picking her up, Ms. [WITNESS #1] called Ms. [VICTIM #1] daughter, and they convinced her to report what happened.
At approximately 1444 hours, Ms. [VICTIM #1] was taken to Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital by EMS Med 1 due to high blood pressure and her having a history of congestive heart failure. Ms. [VICTIM #1] was given a case card and advised of victim remedies on the back of it.
The following charges were taken via criminal arrest warrant on Johnny Watson:
- Aggravated Assault – Family Violence (WNO: 16-EW-001905)
- False Imprisonment – Family Violence (WNO: 26-EW-001906)
- Battery – Family Violence (WNO: 26-EW-001907)
On Saturday, 02/21/2026, at approximately 1000 hours, Ms. [VICTIM #1] and Ms. [WITNESS #1] were notified to send me pictures of paperwork proving she was a disabled adult, which they obliged. Once the paperwork is sent to my county-issued cell phone, an additional criminal arrest warrant for “Abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a disabled adult (O.C.G.A § 16-5-102),” will be taken on Johnny Watson.
A criminal history was run on both Ms. [VICTIM #1] and Mr. Watson.
I then returned to duty.
[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:
3/29/26
JOHNNY LEE WATSON JR. ARRESTED IN SPALDING COUNTY
What this means: Johnny Lee Watson Jr. was arrested on March 29, 2026, in Spalding County following a warrant issued by another agency. He is accused of Aggravated Assault, False Imprisonment, Battery – Family Violence, and a Probation Violation. An arrest means law enforcement took him into custody based on an existing warrant — it is not a finding of guilt. Johnny Lee Watson Jr. is presumed innocent unless and until a court determines otherwise.
3/30/26
FIRST APPEARANCE HEARING HELD FOR JOHNNY LEE WATSON JR.
What this means: On March 30, 2026, Johnny Lee Watson Jr. appeared before a judge for the first time following his arrest. At a first appearance hearing, the judge informs the defendant of the charges against them, advises them of their rights, and typically makes a decision about bond — whether the defendant can be released before trial and under what conditions.
4/8/26
ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE ON BEHALF OF JOHNNY LEE WATSON JR.
What this means: On April 8, 2026, Sameerah Napper, an Assistant Public Defender with the Griffin Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office, filed a formal notice with the Spalding County Superior Court stating that she is representing Johnny Lee Watson Jr. in Case No. 26FAH-0369 BDC. This means Watson now has an attorney of record assigned to his case through the public defender’s office.
4/14/26
PRELIMINARY HEARING SCHEDULED FOR JOHNNY LEE WATSON JR.
What this means: A preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 14, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. in Spalding County. A preliminary hearing is a court proceeding where a judge determines whether there is enough evidence — called probable cause — to require the defendant to answer the charges in a higher court. It is not a trial and does not determine guilt or innocence.