By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
Assistant D.A. found dead
Placeholder Image

John G. Wilbanks Jr., former assistant district attorney for Dawson County, was found dead at his vacation home in Fernandina Beach, Fla., from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was 57.

The news came following a rapid timeline of events, from Wilbanks being fired from his job on Monday, Dec. 10, to the confirmation of a state investigation on Thursday, Dec. 13.

Wilbanks had been escorted off the premises of the Government Center on Monday of last week. District Attorney Lee Darragh had then confirmed that Wilbanks would not be returning to work. Wilbanks had been with the office for several years, Darragh said.

Before the news of Wilbanks death on Thursday, John Bankhead, spokesperson for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, confirmed that the GBI had been requested to conduct an investigation on an assistant DA in Dawson County. I cant mention any names, Bankhead had said at the time, but yes, we were requested by a superior court judge to investigate certain allegations.

Hours later, Wilbanks was confirmed dead by the Fernandina Beach Police Department.

According to the incident report, shortly after 7 a.m. Dec. 13, the Nassau County Sheriffs Office in Florida received a 911 call from a male advising that he was about to commit suicide, and said, Do not resuscitate. He then hung up.

Shortly after that phone call, another call was placed from Col. Wayne Mock with the Gainesville Police Department, who advised the department that he believed his friend, John Wilbanks, was in our city and was contemplating suicide and that he had learned this from Johns wife Deborah, the report states.

Deborah Wilbanks was then called by the Fernandina police. She confirmed that she, along with their two sons, had received text messages from Wilbanks.

The Florida police investigated the Wilbanks vacation home, but he was not located. The search led the police to the beach, where Wilbanks body was found.

An investigation is ongoing, but a press release from the Fernandina Beach Police Department states that the preliminary investigation indicates that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted and there is no indication of foul play.

Bankhead said that Wilbanks death effectively closed out the GBIs investigation.

Mr. Wilbanks was a dedicated public servant with a decadeslong history of effective prosecution and the administration of justice, and his life should be honored without regard to the investigation being reported, Darragh said in a released statement.

Details of the GBI investigation and of Wilbanks dismissal from his job have not been confirmed by either the GBI or the district attorneys office. He was involved in a Nov. 19 incident that led to the arrest of William Lee Evans of Jasper on a charge of disorderly conduct.

The arrest warrant reads: William Lee Evans did act in a violent manner toward the person of John Wilbanks, by swinging his fists toward John Wilbanks and placing John Wilbanks in reasonable fear of the safety of his life, limb, or health.

It is not known whether or not this particular incident had anything to do with the end of Wilbanks tenure with the DAs office.

Evans son, Cody Evans, of Jasper, also was arrested in the incident for driving with an expired license.

Bankhead said that no further information could be provided, but that more information is expected to be released soon.

As far as the circumstances surrounding Wilbanks dismissal, Darragh said it would be inappropriate for him to comment at this time. Darragh did confirm that the cases Wilbanks was in charge of had been redistributed.

Adjustments have already been made to ensure that the work of the DAs office will continue in a timely and efficient manner, he said.

Darragh did confirm that the district attorneys office will not handle the case. I have decided that I would recuse myself from all matters concerning Mr. Wilbanks as a victim or otherwise, he said.

Dawson News & Advertiser Publisher/Editor Kimberly Boim contributed to this article.

Community Events
6 variances approved by board
7ESN Screen shot 2015 09 22 at 1.30.11 PM
BOC

The Dawson County Board of Commissioners Thursday said yes to six of seven variances that will bring Dawson Marketplace one step closer to reality.

"Dawson Marketplace wants to vary from the stipulations given to them by the Board of Commissioners in 2007," Rachel Burton, director of planning and zoning for Dawson County said.

Documents indicate Dawson Marketplace approved variances include:

varying the minimum setback from the right-of-way for Georgia 400 to 90 feet from 100 feet; vary the building facade composition from 80 percent to 50 percent; varying the maximum number of off-street parking spaces to one per 50 square feet of gross floor space; varying the number of monument signs from one to five; varying signage for multi-tenant buildings from two to one and allowing for minor signs, and varying the screening of mechanical equipment from the street for only rear facades facing Lumpkin Campground Road.

The board denied the variance for wall signage with the stipulation that it could be addressed at a later date.

Separately, the board approved two agenda items pertaining to the Margie Weaver Senior Center: a request to hold a raffle and an addendum to the FY 2016 Legacy Link contract.

"Dawson County contracts with Legacy Link each year for our meal service for our seniors," Senior Centor Director Dawn Pruett said. "They are our facilitator for funding for state and federal grants. We are in a district with Hall, Lumpkin, Forsyth and a few others. This is an addendum to the contract that was originally approved months ago."

In other county business, the following requests passed by unanimous vote:

Dawson County Emergency Services Director Billy Thurmond was granted approval of the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Grant. Each county in Georgia is required to update their hazard mitigation plan and have it approved by GEMA and FEMA. By doing so, Dawson would be eligible for federal and state funding in the event of a disaster declaration. The total amount is $24,000 ($18,000 federal, $2,400 state, $3,600 county in-kind).

"The grant allows us to be eligible for funding in the event of an emergency like we had last February with the ice," Thurmond said.

Lori VanSickle and Duane Wallace were appointed to the Dawson County Library Board by the commissioners, replacing Kay Black and Eydie Stegall, respectively. VanSickle brings twenty years of leadership and management experience to the board. Wallace has been a licensed counselor for nearly fifteen years both professionally and in a volunteer capacity.

October has been proclaimed 'Clean Water Month' and Dawson County citizens are encouraged to participate in "Imagine A Day Without Water" Oct. 6-8. Other observances include River Clean-up Oct. 14 and Shore Sweep for Lake Lanier Oct. 27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at War Hill Park.

Separately, the issue of a new fire station was addressed on behalf of Sandra Bryan, a resident of Rainbow Lake Dr. Bryan's residence received a fire rating of 10 due to its considerable distance from a fire station. The implication for those who receive a rating of 10 is higher insurance costs.

Anybody that is beyond five road miles from any of Dawson County's eight fire stations is classified as a ten, according to Thurmond.

"When and if we build a fire station at the Etowah water tank on Elliott Family Parkway, Ms. Bryan would be within the limits," Thurmond said. "We have property, but we don't have funds."

The Board will meet next on Thursday, Sept. 24 in the Assembly Room of the Dawson Government Center, 25 Justice Way at 4 p.m.