Friday, Aug. 12, 2005

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Former President Carter's grandson gets house arrest, probation for theft case

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Former President Jimmy Carter’s grandson limped into a Fayette County courthouse Friday and admitted to a Superior Court judge that he swiped an Xbox video game system from a friend’s house and hid marijuana in his shoe while under the influence of alcohol.

Jeremy Davis Carter, 18, of 311 Spear Road, Peachtree City, appeared in court about 8:30 a.m. Friday to enter a guilty plea in connection with a Dec. 4-5 incident. Carter was accompanied by his attorney Joe Saia of Peachtree City.

In exchange for Carter’s admission of guilt, Griffin Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Johnnie Caldwell Jr. ordered the teen to spend 30 days on house arrest, serve 36 months on probation, pay a $750 fine and $537.50 for other costs and undergo substance abuse treatment. Carter also will have to complete 40 hours of community service.

Saia said he was satisfied with the judge’s sentence.

“Judge Caldwell was really gracious and fair,” Saia said. “He got First Offender treatment. If he completes his probation, he will not have a criminal record.”

Saia said Carter is suffering from a broken ankle and is expected to have surgery at Emory Medical Center in Atlanta on Monday.

“He broke it in 11 or 15 places,” Saia said.

On Wednesday, Carter, a McIntosh High School grad, is expected to report for college at West Georgia University in Carrollton.

Carter will be allowed to attend college and will not be forced to wear an ankle monitor despite his house arrest, officials said.

Saia indicated Carter entered the plea Friday to put the ordeal behind him before he starts college Wednesday.

Carter was originally charged with burglary and misdemeanor alcohol and marijuana possession charges.

However, after reaching a plea agreement offered by Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard, Carter pleaded to misdemeanor theft by taking, alcohol and marijuana possession charges.

Assistant District Attorney Randy Coggin presented the plea Friday.

Carter was arrested Dec. 5 after he entered the home of Kay and Terry Beckom between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. Dec. 4 and stole the Xbox.

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 the Xbox and ran from the home.

Carter climbed a fence at the home and ran into another resident who snatched the Xbox back from him.

Carter fled on a golf cart. Police later tracked him down at his home and he was taken into custody.

A verbal confrontation allegedly erupted between police and Carter's parents, Annette and Donnel Jeff Carter, Jimmy Carter's youngest son, as police arrived to pick up Jeremy.

"... The mother became increasingly verbally aggressive and started to move toward the officers as if to take the offender back from the arresting officers," according to statements from police.

"As the mother became more aggressive, Sgt. Miller informed her that she was in danger of violating the law."

As police led young Carter to the squad car, Annette Carter allegedly accused the officers of being "Nazi Gestapo."

On the way to the Fayette County jail, police detected an odor of alcohol coming from Carter's person. The officers also noted Carter's eyes were red and glassy and his lips were red and swollen. Police allegedly later heard a noise in the car that sounded like a shoe bouncing off the floor of the vehicle. They searched Carter and allegedly found a clear plastic bag of marijuana in his shoe, police said.

Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray said no one consulted him about the plea arrangement, but added he has no problem with the deal that was offered.

“If it was anything that we felt was out of whack, we would say something,” Murray said. “If the victim is satisfied with the plea bargain, we don’t have a problem with it.”

Kay Beckom indicated in an earlier interview she agreed with the plea deal.

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.”

Murray said he has a “great deal of faith in the courts and the DA’s office.”

Murray indicated Carter’s mother called them Nazis, but his department didn’t try and get retribution.

Murray indicated everybody deserves a chance to turn their life around.