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Name:
Warthen, Leonard Jerome
Date of Booking:
08/18/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Aggravated Assault
Pointing Gun Or Pistol At Another
Possession Of A Firearm By A Convicted Felon
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 08/18/2026 at approximately 1513hrs, I PTL P Brown 4152 responded in non-emergency mode to [100 BLOCK] Thruman St Apt [REDACTED] which is in the City of Griffin, Spalding County in regards to a Dispute in Progress involving a Weapon.
Upon arrival I made contact with [VICTIM #1] who advised me that a Leonard and him got into a verbal altercation and Leonard got angry and pulled a gun on him. [VICTIM #1] advised that Leonard and him are roommates, and have been living together inside the apartment for more than a month.
[VICTIM #1] advised that Leonard and him were inside the living room when they got into an argument. Leonard then went into his room and came back into the living room with a black in color handgun. [VICTIM #1] advised that Leonard pointed the handgun at him. He then states that Leonard took off and left the apartment in a four-door grey in color dodge truck. [VICTIM #1] stated that Leonard took the gun with him when he left. [VICTIM #1] only knew Leonard by his first name and had no other information such as a last name or date of birth.
I left [VICTIM #1] inside the apartment and went to my vehicle to run information on the computer. While walking to my patrol car I observed a grey in color, four door, dodge truck drive by Thurman St with a black male driving. The vehicle can be described by having a Dodge sticker emblem on front windshield.
I spoke with SGT Trawick 3532 and CID was notified about the Agg. Assault. Prior to CID’s arrival I went back up to the apartment and while approaching the apartment I heard screaming coming from inside the apartment. I knocked on the door and then opened the door and observed a black male inside the apartment yelling at [VICTIM #1]. I asked who he was to which the male stated he was Leonard. I grabbed Leonard’s wrists and placed his hands behind his back, placing handcuffs on his wrists, checked them for fit, and double locked them. Leonard was placed into the rear of my patrol vehicle and was transported to the police department for CID.
Leonard’s Dodge truck, TAG# [REDACTED]. was located by CID parked in the lower parking lot of the Quite Hills apartment. The vehicle was towed to the Police Dept for a search warrant. Leonard’s vehicle was observed to have a Dodge sticker emblem on the front windshield.
The incident was turned over to CID.
After CID conducted the investigation I transported Leonard to the Spalding County Jail from the Police Dept where he was turned over to Jail Staff.
[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:
8/21/26
FIRST APPEARANCE HEARING
What this means: Leonard Jerome Warthen appeared before a judge for his first appearance in Spalding County Criminal Court. At this hearing, the defendant was informed of the charges against him — Aggravated Assault, Pointing a Gun or Pistol at Another, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon — and of his rights. The judge also addressed bail and bond conditions. This is typically one of the earliest steps in a criminal case.
8/24/26
ORDER FOR STATUTORY BOND HEARING
What this means: The court issued an order scheduling a bond hearing in Leonard Jerome Warthen’s case. A bond hearing is where the judge decides whether the defendant can be released from custody before trial and, if so, under what conditions (such as paying bail or agreeing to certain restrictions). This type of hearing is required by law — hence “statutory” — in cases involving serious charges.
9/1/26
PRELIMINARY HEARING
What this means: Leonard Jerome Warthen appeared before a judge in Spalding County for a preliminary hearing. At this hearing, the prosecution presented evidence to show whether there is probable cause — a reasonable basis — to believe the defendant committed the crimes he is accused of: Aggravated Assault, Pointing a Gun or Pistol at Another, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The judge decides whether the case has enough evidence to move forward to the next stage.
9/15/26
ENTRY OF APPEARANCE — REBEKAH SPRAYBERRY
What this means: Rebekah Sprayberry, an attorney, has filed a notice with the court stating that she is representing Leonard Jerome Warthen in this case. This is a formal step that tells the court and the prosecution who the defendant’s lawyer is.