Friday, Aug. 5, 2005

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Plea deal possible in teen drug case

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Former president Jimmy Carter’s grandson, who is accused of burglarizing a friend’s home in December and later being caught by police with alcohol and marijuana in his shoe, could be on the verge of striking a plea bargain with the local district attorney’s office.

A plea agreement for Jeremy Davis Carter was delivered to Carter’s attorney, Joe Saia, Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard said. However, it is unclear if Carter will accept the plea deal since Saia has not informed the district attorney’s office about the decision, Ballard indicated.

Once the plea deal is accepted, details of that agreement can be released to the public, Ballard added.

Carter, a Peachtree City teen, faces charges of burglary, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and minor in possession of alcohol in connection with a Dec. 4 incident at the home of Kay and Terry Beckom.

Ballard said it’s a common practice for the state to offer plea bargains to attorneys on various cases.

“It’s common for us to enter into plea discussions with people and we are treating this case like every other case,” Ballard said.

One reason the state offers plea agreements to various offenders is because it saves the taxpayers money, he indicated.

“There’s not enough time to prosecute every case, so you have to be selective in what cases you take to trial and the ones you resolve in some other way,” Ballard said.

Carter allegedly entered the Beckoms’ home located in the upscale Smokerise subdivision between 9:30 and 11:30 p.m. Carter, who was a family friend, entered using the front door of the home.

A child at the home found Carter hiding underneath the bed in one of the children’s rooms, according to Peachtree City police. Carter shimmied out from under the bed while holding an X-Box video game system and bolted from the home.

Carter scaled a fence of the home and ran into another resident who wrestled the X-Box, valued at $150, from Carter’s clutches.

Teen witnesses including Jordan Brandon Beckom and Brendon Thomas Hall provided information to police that led to Carter’s capture.

Carter was arrested at his home and taken to the Fayette County Jail for booking. He was released after posting a $11,500 bond.

Mrs. Beckom said someone called and asked her what she thought about a plea bargain. She indicated she agreed with the idea.

Mrs. Beckom said Carter was a former best friend of her son, Terry Lee. She felt Carter was just a “kid who made a bad decision.”

“I didn’t think he should just walk away with no punishment, but I do not think he should have any jail time whatsoever,” Mrs. Beckom said. “Maybe some community service and maybe some rehab courses because personally I think he was on drugs and so did the other kids that were around.”

Saia defended Carter’s actions in an earlier interview about the case.

“In speaking with the Carter family, we feel like this is an unfortunate situation and we are sorry that it has escalated to this point,” Saia said. “We cannot comment further. We feel like the case will be resolved amicably for everyone.”