Assistant Public Defender Alexia Davis has surrendered to Columbia County authorities on charges of theft of lost or mislaid property.
Davis, 31, is accused of holding onto a $10,500 diamond ring she found in the parking lot of the Grovetown Cracker Barrel, according to sheriff’s Capt. Steve Morris. Sources tell The Jail Report that the attorney even had the ring appraised.
“When someone finds property that doesn’t belong to them, … then they have to, by law, take reasonable measures to restore that property to its owner. And that was not done in this case,” Capt. Morris said.
Davis surrendered about 9 a.m. Tuesday and was expected to be released on a $2,600 surety bond.
Davis’ attorney, Tanya Jeffords, defended her client in a statement that says Davis was wrongly charged since she surrendered the ring as soon as she became aware of the owner. Jeffords’ full statement is below:
“At this time warrants have been issued by the associate magistrate who is not a lawyer in Columbia County for Ms. Davis for the crime of theft of lost or mislaid property. “A person commits the offense of theft of lost or mislaid property when he comes into control of property that he knows or learns to have been lost or mislaid and appropriates the property to his own use without first taking reasonable measures to restore the property to the owner.” No matter what shadow the Sheriff and the District Attorney’s office tries to cast upon Ms. Davis’ impeccable reputation and her motives, the legal fact is that she did not appropriate the ring for her own use, which is the crime this statute is intending to cover. When she learned who the owner was through the postings online from the Sheriff’s Office, she promptly turned it in. She knew it was valuable but she had neither sold it nor wore the ring as if it was hers. I trust that Columbia County will do the right thing. They will likely wonder why their tax dollars are being spent to prosecute a person when the lady who lost the ring got her ring back. Ms. Davis should not have to present a defense as to whether she took reasonable measures to restore the property to the owner, because the lady did get her ring back as soon as Ms. Davis knew who she was. Mere possession of the property for a length of time does not constitute a crime. As her lawyers and as her friends, we will all prepare for trial and pray that the right thing will be done. Ms. Davis is represented by Tanya Jeffords, Charles Lyons, Jacque Hawk, and Jack Long. With kind regards, I remain, Tanya D. Jeffords”
I don’t see any charges being brought against the lady who stole my HOA money. She stole 192,000.. haven’t seen her mugshot yet..Columbia County can pick n choose who they want to bring charges against….sad situation
I don’t see any charges being brought against the lady who stole my HOA money. She stole 192,000.. haven’t seen her picture in Augusta crime
This is some BS!
let’s see how this plays out
Silly waste of money
Ok, and moving on to the next news please
Do what would have been done to anyone else.
Wow! Columbia County is pathetic! Why would they try to ruin this woman’s career and reputation like that?! This is so embarrassing and petty! Whoever drew up the charges in the first place should be fired!
Columbia county is so full of SH?T. The lady turned the ring in, and you still charge her anyway. How the hell do you lose a $10000 dollar ring in the first place. Would think its supposed to be on finger!!!!!!
If you do the crime you gotta do the time.
SHH a $10,000 ring She needs to be CHARGED!!!
No she dont need to be charged she need to be rewarded for turnin it in!!!!!
Really, who would turn in a ring that they found on the ground?? I can see if they lady took it off in front of her and forgot it and she grabbed it and kept it. Now that’s stealing!!!
Having the ring appraised changes her intent. Why would anyone appraise a ring they intended on returning.
True she turned in the ring… But not until her face was shown on TV and the police was looking for her did she turn it in! So yes she needs to be charged. She knew what she was doing was wrong… She is a Assistant Public Defender she has to know!
What the F#@% is the lesson here? The ring would probably still sitting on my dresser, because I would not have checked on line for the owner. I probably would have thought it was custom jewlery. Bet the owner doesn’t think she’s a criminal!
When will the people of Columbia County realize that the sheriffs dept. is a danger to the welfare of thier own citizens.They dont have enough real crime to support the present force or thier jail.They have to make charges extreme and make charges that deny bail to keep thier jail full.
When will the people of Columbia County realize that the sheriffs dept. is a danger to the welfare of thier own citizens.They dont have enough real crime to support the present force or thier jail so they magnify most charges.
make charges extreme and make charges that deny bail to keep thier jail full.
L Vanover STOLED 192,000 from her HOA over two months ago. No charges have been filed. This lady finds a ring and CCSO wants to make an example out of her. Who the hell loses a 10,000 ring and not know it gone. Probably didn’t want it to be found. If I would have found it, probably would have thrown it in the trash thinking it was cubic zirconia. The owner probably hd it insured…….
I bet if she was white she wouldn’t have got locked up. Columbia is racism, I would be wrong to stay Richmond wasn’t either. Even when blacks are right they are wrong.That is why as we need to reverse this and get in the political system and make this thing fair and right for all.