Former Teacher Acquitted in Sexual Contact Case

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – A jury found former Monroe Comprehensive High School teacher Audrianna Cobb-Williams not guilty on Friday, Oct. 31, in a trial concerning allegations of sexual contact with a student. The jury took less than an hour to deliberate.

Cobb-Williams attended each day of her trial, which included three days of testimony following jury selection that began on Tuesday, Oct. 28. The case drew significant attention from the community.

In a separate incident, multiple arrests were made after shots were fired from a vehicle on US 19 in Lee County on Thursday, Oct. 30. Two people were detained at the scene when deputies responded to reports of gunfire near the Lee Crossings shopping center.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office later identified those arrested as Nariyah Cauley and Jordyan Keith, who were found in a gold Honda Accord. Another suspect, Zhane Daniels, was detained during a traffic stop on N. Slappey Boulevard.

According to the sheriff’s office, the gold Honda was reportedly pursuing a gray Honda at the time of the shooting. Witnesses stated that shots were exchanged during the chase. Deputies recovered a firearm that matched descriptions given by witnesses along US 19.

Cauley, Keith, and Daniels are facing multiple charges and have been taken to the Lee County Jail. Anyone with more information is encouraged to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at (229) 759-6012.

Meanwhile, thousands of families in Georgia who rely on SNAP benefits are left in uncertainty due to the federal government shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that benefits would not be issued as expected, affecting many low-income households across the state.

Bobby Kogan, Senior Director of Federal Budget Policy at the Center for American Progress, expressed concern over the impact of the shutdown on American families. “The point of the government is to help people,” he said.

In response to the SNAP delays, St. James Baptist Church in Baconton is organizing a food drive to help those affected. Pastor Lawrence C. Knighton shared that the church felt the need to provide daily support, adapting their plans to assist the community more effectively.

The church invites anyone to donate canned goods, produce, and frozen foods throughout November, as they prepare for the possibility of a prolonged delay in SNAP benefits.