Couple faces drug charges

A Marble Hill couple who fled the country to avoid drug charges has been taken into Dawson County custody. Dawson County Sheriff's Lt. Ray Goodie said Gladys Lucia Ferrer, 46, and husband Nelson Vidal Ferrer-Hernandez, 52, were detained last week as they attempted to enter Panama.

Grand jury hands down indictments

More than two dozen people were indicted on criminal charges after a Dawson County Grand Jury met Sept. 10. Among those facing charges are a Dahlonega man found in possession of industrial grade dynamite that closed down an area in downtown Dawsonville earlier this year and a parolee who was released to care for her aging father but was then reportedly caught abusing him.

Man may also have posed as officer here

A Dahlonega man arrested last month for impersonating an officer in neighboring Lumpkin County faces the same charge in Dawson County. According to authorities, Donald Lee Hill portrayed himself as a border patrol agent with the Department of Homeland Security on several occasions between May 1 and July 1 to employees at a local pawn shop.

Sweep deemed successful

A recent multi-agency sweep to verify the whereabouts of Dawson County's nearly three dozen sex offenders resulted in the arrest of one and investigations into two others. Dawson County Sheriff's Lt. Ray Goodie called the roundup Thursday an overall success.

Suspect charged after manhunt along 400

Dawson man sentenced in meth trafficking case

A 46-year-old Dawson County man pleaded guilty last week to trafficking methamphetamine. In a negotiated plea, Daniel Jeffery Thompson received a 22-year sentence with the first 12 years to be served in prison and the remainder on probation.

2 locals charged in sting

Two Dawsonville men were among 23 people indicted last week as part of a two-year undercover FBI investigation into the Outlaw Motorcycle Club and its affiliates in Georgia. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Raymond Sellers, 65, of Dawsonville, was arraigned along with George Norwood, 48, of Cumming, on charges they conspired to make a bomb and give it to an undercover agent.

Man charged in historian’s death

A Gainesville man faces charges in connection with the collision that claimed the life of local historian and retired educator Charles Finley. Mickey Lee Bunton, 67, turned himself in to authorities Aug. 14, the day after he was charged with second-degree vehicular homicide by the Georgia State Patrol, which investigated the wreck.

Four charged with trafficking meth

A routine traffic stop in downtown Dawsonville early Saturday led to the arrests of four people on felony drug charges, authorities said. According to the Dawson County Sheriff's Office, those arrested include: Stephanie Adkins, 40, of Gainesville; Joseph Cansler, 42, of Sweetwater, Tenn.; and Crystal Tyner, 28, and Samuel Smallwood, 39, both of Madisonville, Tenn.

Officers recover $16K in stolen equipment

Three people face theft and drug charges after a probation verification visit turned up more than $16,000 worth of stolen equipment from a new Fulton County high school. According to the Dawson County Sheriff's Office, 23-year-old Donald B. Watts of Orlando, Fla., was charged with two counts of theft by receiving stolen property, one felony and one misdemeanor, as well as misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Official: ‘This is a set fire’

A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for a suspicious fire June 12 at a vacant building. "We're looking at this as a set fire," said Dawson County Emergency Services Deputy Chief and Fire Marshal Tim Satterfield.

Pot plants seized in drug sweep

Authorities say a multi-agency law enforcement sweep uncovered an elaborate indoor marijuana-growing operation in western Dawson County. According to Dawson County Sheriff Billy Carlisle, drug agents found more than two dozen marijuana plants in the basement of a home on Hensley Way and made one arrest.

Convicted child molester asks for new trial

A Dawsonville man serving life in prison for aggravated child molestation made a case last week for a new trial. Northeastern Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Bonnie Oliver is considering the matter, which she heard Thursday.

Former planning member sentenced in drug case

A former member of Dawson County's planning board has been found guilty of trafficking methamphetamine. Elbert Phil Clark, 63, received a 20-year sentence, with 12 years to be served in prison and the remainder on probation.

Local man sentenced in vehicular homicide case

A Dawsonville man convicted of vehicular homicide in February received a 10-year sentence for the 2010 incident that claimed the life of a 24-year-old Gainesville woman. According to authorities, Colon Louis Hartzler, 45, was driving under the influence of alcohol on June 25, 2010, when passenger Jenna Fitzgerald fell from his Jeep and was struck by a minivan on Ga. 400.

Family disputes state patrol reports

Family members of the teen who died last week in what has been dubbed a "car surfing" accident are convinced the police report is inaccurate.

Man charged with child molestation

A Dawsonville man arrested last week is accused of sexually abusing two girls.

Ex-bank manager charged in theft

Man charged in attempted arson

A Dawsonville man was arrested Monday morning after he reportedly attempted to set fire to his home on Duck Thurmond Road last week.

Tax official resigns after drug arrest

Dawson County's chief tax appraiser has resigned following his arrest last week on misdemeanor drug charges.

Chief tax appraiser facing drug charges

Dawson County's Chief Tax Appraiser was arrested at his office Tuesday afternoon on misdemeanor drug charges.

Hilton gets life for murders of N.C. couple

Convicted serial killer Gary Michael Hilton received four more life sentences last week for the kidnapping and slaying of an elderly couple in North Carolina.