Third defendant skips court Monday

While two men pled guilty to drug trafficking charges Monday, a third co-defendant skipped court, officials said.

A bench warrant was issued for Samuel Cortez Render of 50 Mount Zion Road, Atlanta. Render, along with Shaddarrian Deandre McDowell of Lithonia and Chester James Thomas of Atlanta were accused of trying to buy 38 pounds of marijuana for $21,500 from an undercover drug agent from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force on Oct. 1, 2007.

Both McDowell and Thomas pled guilty to criminal attempt to traffick in marijuana.

McDowell was sentenced to 15 years in prison while Thomas’s sentencing was delayed until October 7. The three were scheduled to be tried Monday morning before Superior Court Judge Tommy R. Hankinson.

Also Monday two men pled guilty to burglary charges in separate cases. Frank Timothy Bradley of Ga. Highway 85 south, Senoia pled guilty to burglary, possession of tools for the commission of a crime and obstruction of a police officer. The incident happened at a vacant business on Ga. Highway 85 north on Nov. 26, 2006, according to court documents.

Charles Matthew Thomas Jr., of Lake Joyce Lane Fairburn pled guilty to burglary for taking copper piping from a home on Melanie Lane and also for fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer on Nov. 2, 2007.

Both Bradley and Thomas were sentenced to three years in prison each.

A Newnan man also pled guilty to selling cocaine, officials said. Rodney Roderick Boozer of Greentop Road pled guilty to making the attempted sale of approximately 5 grams of cocaine to an undercover DTF agent at the Wal-Mart in Peachtree City Oct. 8, 2007 in exchange for $360.

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