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Name:
Oram, Richard James
Date of Booking:
07/23/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Battery – Family Violence
Aggravated Stalking
Family Violence Order Violation
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 07-22-2026 at approximately 2216, I responded in an emergency mode to 676 N Expressway room [REDACTED], which is located within the City of Griffin Spalding County Georgia, to a report of a stabbing.
Upon my arrival I made contact with a female by the name of Sierra Hodgins who I detained at this time. I had Hodgins sit down in the hallway where I cleared the hotel room to look for any victims. I did not locate any other people inside of the hotel room but I did observe a broken bathroom door inside. After the scene was secure and the female was Identified she was removed from handcuffs and asked what happened. She stated that her and her boyfriend identified as Richard Oram had gotten into a heated argument where he kicked in the bathroom door and hit her in the head. Hodgins advised that nobody got stabbed and she was unsure of why we were advised of that.
While speaking with Hodgins I did observe multiple small cuts on her right hand on her fingers and she could not advise why she had those. While speaking with her I was advised by another officer that they had contact with Oram on Lyndon Ave and 19th St. I was advised by Officer Philips that the male did have a laceration on his right arm which was consistent with nail marks.
Oram did advise Officer Phillips that Hodgins did kick in the bathroom door while he was inside of the bathroom, and when he attempted to leave, she grabbed his arm and that’s where the marks came from.
With that information I asked Hodgins if she caused the laceration to his arm and she advised it possibly could have been from her but nothing physical happened and she could not elaborate further on this matter.
I was then advised by Officer Phillips that Oram was filling out a statement form and was going to sign it. With the information I had present at the time I was able to determined that Hodgins was the predominate aggressor in this situation and she was placed under arrest for battery family violence.
While still on scene at the hotel Hodgins advised me of several big bruises she had on her arms and back from previous altercations with Oram. I did photo graph these and they will be uploaded to Patrol PICS. Hodgins advised me that bruises on her arms were from the previous 3 days of Oram throwing a lighter a clip board and pinching her. at this point Hodgins was transported to the Spalding County jail without incident.
I then went to Lyndon and 19th St to speak with Oram. Oram did advise me he pinched Hodgins while they were “good” and not out of anger. While speaking with Oram I was advised by dispatch of a possible bond condition to stay away from Hodgins and they were able to confirm this.
At this point Oram was placed under arrest for violation of a family violence order and transported to the Spalding County jail without incident.
I will be speaking with a judge in reference to obtaining warrants on Hodgins for battery F/V, and on Oram for Agg stalking violation of a family violence order and battery F/V.
I was unable to add the charges for Oram in thsi report due to IBR errors.
[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:
There is a listed co-defendant in this case. Please see Sierra Hayley Hudgins for additional information.
7/25/26
FIRST APPEARANCE HEARING HELD FOR RICHARD JAMES ORAM
What this means: Richard James Oram appeared before Judge Brennan T. MacDowell in the Magistrate Court of Spalding County for his first appearance hearing. This is the initial court appearance after an arrest where a judge reviews the charges and determines bond. The court found that Oram is accused of three offenses: Violation of a Pretrial Release Order/Family Violence (Warrant 26-EW-004275), Battery Substantial Physical Harm (Warrant 26-EW-004276), and Aggravated Stalking (Warrant 26-EW-004277). Because Aggravated Stalking is an offense that can only be bonded before a Superior Court judge under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1), the Magistrate Court set no bond and ordered Oram held in the Spalding County Jail until the matter could be heard at the Superior Court level. A $5,000 bond was noted for the Pretrial Release Order violation and $5,000 for the Battery charge, but the Aggravated Stalking charge required the Superior Court’s involvement before any release could be considered.
7/27/26
SUPERIOR COURT NOTIFIED — BOND HEARING SCHEDULED FOR RICHARD JAMES ORAM
What this means: Chief Judge Scott L. Ballard of the Griffin Judicial Circuit issued a formal notice to the Spalding County District Attorney’s Office and the Superior Court Clerk on July 27, 2026, advising that Richard James Oram was being held without bond following his Magistrate Court hearing on July 25, 2026. Because Aggravated Stalking is an offense that Georgia law requires to be bonded only before a Superior Court judge, the Superior Court was required to step in. Chief Judge Ballard scheduled a bond hearing for August 5, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Benjamin D. Coker at the Spalding County Courthouse in Griffin, Georgia. The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office was directed to have Oram present at that hearing.
8/6/26
BOND DENIED FOR RICHARD JAMES ORAM
What this means: Following the bond hearing, Judge Benjamin D. Coker of the Superior Court of Spalding County — Griffin Judicial Circuit — issued a written order on August 6, 2026, denying bond for Richard James Oram across all three warrants (26-EW-004275, 26-EW-004276, and 26-EW-004277). The order was prepared by Wendy Carlyle, Assistant District Attorney for the Griffin Judicial Circuit. Of the criteria listed in the order, the court specifically checked that Richard James Oram poses a significant risk of committing a new felony while the case is pending trial. As a result, Oram remains held in the Spalding County Jail without bond.