Cherokee County District Attorney - Georgia

06/19/2026

News Release: Man Pleads Guilty to Child Molestation

District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway announces that on June 15 Jarrod Donte Luster, 39, of Marietta, pled guilty to two counts of child molestation and was sentenced to 30 years, with the first 20 years in prison and the remainder on probation with s*x offender special conditions. Luster’s case was originally set for jury trial this week.

The Cherokee Sheriff's Office - Georgia began investigating this case on November 27, 2023, after a 14-year-old disclosed that Luster had touched him inappropriately when he was 8 years old. Luster was a close family friend who had frequent access to the child.

In a forensic interview, the child provided details of acts that occurred in 2018 while his mother was in the hospital and Luster was babysitting. These acts included touching the child’s inner thigh and grabbing his groin. During the investigation, three additional children from the extended family disclosed similar acts involving Luster. Those incidents occurred outside of Cherokee County.

“This defendant insidiously embedded himself within an extended family to gain access to their children. He spent years cultivating trust, grooming each child over time, and carefully selecting moments to commit his offenses. His actions were calculated and predatory,” said Assistant District Attorney Meaghan Frankish of the Special Victims Unit, who prosecuted this case on behalf of the State.

During sentencing, the court heard six impact statements describing how the defendant manipulated the family and inflicted lasting trauma.

“Jarrod became deeply integrated into our family. He attended family gatherings, holidays, and important events. We viewed him as a brother, and the children knew him as ‘Uncle J.’ He used that trusted position to form close relationships with the children,” said one of the parents during the hearing.

“The betrayal and devastation caused by Jarrod’s actions are impossible to fully describe,” said another parent. “I have grieved the relationship and person I thought Jarrod was. The facade and act he portrayed is long gone. I see this person now for what he is, an evil soul living in the carcass of a man he deceived all of us he was.”

At the conclusion of the hearing, Senior Judge Ronnie K. Batchelor sentenced Luster as negotiated, ordering that he serve 30 years, with the first 20 years in prison and the remainder on probation with s*x offender special conditions, including s*x offender registration and no contact of any kind with anyone under the age of 18. He was also ordered to have no contact with all four of the victims and their families.

The case was investigated by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, and Gordon County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Meaghan Frankish of the Special Victims Unit, Office of the District Attorney, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit.

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Information About Sexual Abuse of Children
Child abusers often engage in a grooming process that allows them to perpetrate s*xual abuse undetected. “Grooming” in the context of child s*xual abuse is a manipulative process intended to secure the child’s silence. Common characteristics of the grooming process include targeting the child, gaining the child and caregiver’s trust, filling a need, using flattery and gifts, isolating the child, s*xualizing the relationship, and maintaining control.

Children who have been groomed are often conflicted about their feelings for the abuser because he/she has methodically established a positive relationship with the child prior to introducing s*xual touches. Children who have been groomed are also more likely to conceal the abuse and delay disclosing the abuse to others.

To report suspected child abuse, call Child Protective Services at 855-422-4453. If the child is in immediate danger, call 911.

06/19/2026

This morning, Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Geoffrey Fogus and Investigator Andrea Flagg were honored as part of the Canton Optimist Club's Respect for Law program.

Congratulations to both of today’s honorees, and thank you to the Canton Optimist Club for your continued support!

06/18/2026

Life Plus 10 Years for Canton Man Found Guilty of Attempted Murder, Armed Robbery, and Other Charges

District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway announces that on June 17 a Cherokee County jury found Prince Hawar Rolle, 27, of Canton, guilty of all 10 counts he faced in trial: criminal attempt to commit murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault (3 counts), false imprisonment, aggravated battery, criminal damage to property in the first degree, and possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony (2 counts).

The charges stem from a shooting and armed robbery at River Ridge Apartments. Canton Police Department, GA responded to the complex just after 4 a.m. on June 26, 2025. Upon arrival, they found a man with a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

The victim told police he was held at gunpoint by one man while a second man searched his bedroom and stole cash and a loaded Smith & Wesson handgun. The second man, later identified as Rolle, used the stolen handgun to shoot the victim. Then, as he left the apartment, Rolle fired another round at the victim and his roommate, who had been awakened by the gunfire. The victim sustained serious injuries and was taken to Kennestone Hospital, where he underwent multiple surgeries. He remained hospitalized for about a month before being released.

The victim said he had invited Rolle to his apartment after communicating with him hours earlier on a dating app. He had no prior contact with the accomplice, who has yet to be identified.

Since the victim and his roommate were unable to provide a name or detailed description of either suspect, police used digital evidence to identify Rolle.

While reviewing Rolle’s dating app account, a detective uncovered an image that linked Rolle to a Chrysler PT Cruiser captured by a FLOCK camera near the apartment complex around the time of the incident. The vehicle’s license plate was traced to Rolle’s Canton address, and Rolle’s driver’s license photo matched the dating app images.

Search warrants for Rolle’s two cell phones produced additional evidence, including cell-tower data placing him near the apartment at the time of the shooting and TextNow messages between Rolle and the victim. Investigators also found messages with another individual in which the defendant said he planned to make a “couple thousand” that night and, two days after the shooting, stated that he had stolen a gun and money but that someone had been shot.

“Investigators did outstanding work assembling the extensive digital and forensic evidence necessary to identify the defendant,” said Assistant District Attorney Rachel Murphy, of the Gang/Organized Crime Unit, Office of the District Attorney. “Their efforts ensured the jury had a complete understanding of the events that occurred and the harm inflicted on the victims.”

During the two-day trial, the State called nine witnesses and introduced 66 exhibits, including images from the dating app, photos from inside the apartment, text messages, Flock camera data, location information from the cell phones, cell tower records, surveillance footage, and Ring camera video.

The jury returned its verdict after deliberating for approximately three hours. The court then proceeded to sentencing. The State recommended a sentence of life in prison plus an additional 10 years to serve, while the Defense recommended a sentence of 20 years with 10 years to serve in prison.

Superior Court Judge Tony Baker sentenced the defendant to the maximum allowed under Georgia law: life in prison plus an additional 10 years to serve. Under state law, a life sentence requires the defendant to serve 30 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Judge Baker also ordered Rolle to pay $213,738 in restitution for the victim’s medical expenses.

“Technology often plays an integral role in modern day prosecutions such as this one,” said District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway. “Without the FLOCK camera evidence utilized by the detective in this case, a dangerous man would still be free to terrorize our community, and this victim would never have received the justice that this sentence provides.”

The case was investigated by Canton Police Department, with assistance from Cherokee Sheriff's Office. Prosecution was handled by Assistant District Attorney Rachel Murphy, of the Gang/Organized Crime Unit, with the assistance of Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth B. Mackey.

Anyone with information that may help identify the second suspect is encouraged to contact the Canton Police Department at 770-720-4883.

06/12/2026

News Release: Jury Convicts Jonesboro Man in Assault of Intimate Partner at Canton Hotel

District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway announces that on June 11, a Cherokee County jury convicted Desmond Jamal Camp, 37, of Jonesboro, of family violence aggravated assault and false imprisonment. Camp was found not guilty of two additional counts of family violence aggravated assault and one count of family violence battery.

The charges stem from a Canton Police Department, GA investigation that began on April 30, 2025, when officers responded to a 911 call reporting an assault inside a room at the Quality Inn in Canton.

When officers arrived, they spoke with the victim, who had covered herself with a blanket because her shirt and shorts were sliced open, leaving the front of her body exposed. She said she was staying at the hotel while working for a nearby employer. After working the previous night, she returned to the hotel to sleep, but Camp insisted on s*xual in*******se. She and Camp were intimate partners.

The victim told police officers that when she refused, Camp attempted to remove her clothing and grabbed a large knife from his backpack, holding it to her throat. During the attack, she received two small lacerations on her hand that bled onto the bed.

The woman stated that when Camp became distracted, she ran from the room to the front desk, where an employee brought her into a back office for safety and called 911.

Camp then left the hotel and drove toward I-575 South. Canton Police Department detained him as he attempted to enter the interstate.

Police officers found evidence consistent with the victim’s account, including the knife, blood spots on the bed, and cuts on her hand.

Over the course of the two-day trial, the State called seven witnesses, including the 911 caller, law enforcement officers, an expert in domestic violence, and the victim. The State also introduced 14 exhibits, among which were the cut clothing, the knife, 911 call, photographs, and body-worn footage from responding officers that captured the victim’s demeanor and statements immediately after the assault.

The jury deliberated for approximately six hours before returning its verdict. Sentencing was set for June 23.

The case was investigated by the Canton Police Department. Prosecution was handled by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Rachel Ashe, of the Domestic Violence Unit, with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Elliot Stone, Office of the District Attorney, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit.

06/11/2026

News Release: Repeat Offender Sentenced to Prison After Pleading Guilty to Selling M**h and Possessing Fi****ms

District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway announces that on May 19 James Wylie Stroud Jr., 57, of Woodstock, entered a non-negotiated guilty plea to 13 drug-related charges and was sentenced to prison.

During the hearing, Stroud pled guilty to sale of methamphetamine (2 counts), possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a schedule I controlled substance, possession of drug-related objects, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (8 counts).

These charges stem from an investigation that began in October 2025 when the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad (CMANS) became aware that Stroud was selling methamphetamine in Cherokee County and was storing methamphetamine in a detached garage on property belonging to his mother. CMANS agents were familiar with Stroud, who had been sentenced in September 2025 on an unrelated drug charge.

In October and November 2025, undercover agents purchased methamphetamine directly from Stroud in two separate controlled narcotics transactions that took place in the detached garage and at a Kroger parking lot near the defendant’s home. In the two transactions, Stroud sold a total of 8.1 grams of methamphetamine.

On November 29, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the detached garage and his mother’s house, which was located on the same property. In the detached garage, agents found a fishing bag with a black box containing 10 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 1 gram of methamphetamine in a baggie, approximately 1 gram of dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and a digital scale and small baggies consistent with drug distribution. The garage also contained ammunition of various calibers.

In the basement of the mother’s house, CMANS agents located a gun safe containing eight fi****ms: a Wi******er rifle, Mossberg rifle, R***r rifle, G Force Arms shotgun, Kimber pistol, Galesi-Brescia pistol, Hi-Point pistol, and Smith & Wesson pistol. Stroud later admitted that the guns belonged to him.

A forensic extraction of the defendant’s phone uncovered additional evidence, including texts describing trading and selling guns.

“During this investigation, CMANS agents uncovered a significant amount of evidence, including controlled purchases of methamphetamine, narcotics seized during the ex*****on of a search warrant, fi****ms possessed by a convicted felon, and text messages documenting criminal activity,” said Assistant District Attorney Elliot Stone, who prosecuted this case on behalf of the State. “The thorough work of law enforcement allowed the State to present a compelling case that resulted in a substantial prison sentence.”

At the plea hearing, Superior Court Judge Jennifer L. Davis heard the facts of the case and sentencing recommendations from the State and the Defense prior to imposing the sentence.

Judge Davis ordered Stroud to serve 25 years, with the first 15 years in prison. The entire prison portion of his sentence must be served without parole eligibility since he was sentenced as a recidivist offender pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 17-10-7(c).

“This defendant’s criminal history shows a pattern of drug-related offenses spanning decades. When an individual continues to violate the law and harm the community, the State’s pursuit of a lengthy prison sentence is the only appropriate response,” said District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway. “We are thankful that a dangerous drug dealer has been removed from our streets.”

The case was investigated by the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad, with assistance from the Cherokee Sheriff's Office - Georgia. It was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elliot Stone, Office of the District Attorney, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit.

06/10/2026

We join the Carrollton community in mourning the loss of Carrollton Police Officer Dustin Krish, who tragically died nearly a year after being struck by a vehicle while directing traffic. Officer Krish suffered critical injuries and remained hospitalized following the crash.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Krish's family, fellow officers, and all who knew and loved him.

He is healed and home with Jesus. While we are heartbroken on earth, what a celebration Dustin is having in Heaven.

Chief Richards put it best…..Dustin was the best of us. He was unwavering in his duty, courageous, and faithful until the end.

Please, please continue to pray for the love of his life, Emily, Sgt. Chad Krish (his brother), and his entire family…..blood and blue. 💙

To know him was to love him.

“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

06/05/2026

News Release: Acworth Man to Serve 20 Years in Prison for Kidnapping, False Imprisonment, and Other Charges

District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway announces that on May 8 Superior Court Judge Shannon Wallace sentenced Victor Manuel Duarte Arias, 31, to 30 years, with 20 years to serve in prison, after he entered a non-negotiated guilty plea for 12 charges stemming from a domestic violence assault.

Duarte Arias, of the Acworth area of Cherokee County, pled guilty to kidnapping, family violence aggravated battery (2 counts), family violence aggravated assault (4 counts), false imprisonment (3 counts), family violence battery, and cruelty to children in the third degree.

The Cherokee Sheriff's Office - Georgia began investigating this case on August 11, 2025, after a 911 caller reported a physical altercation between a man and a woman who lived together in an apartment near Bells Ferry Road in Cherokee County. While speaking to a dispatcher, the caller said the woman may have stabbed the man.

However, when deputies arrived at the apartment, they found an uninjured man, later identified as Duarte Arias, and a woman with multiple visible injuries. The woman told deputies that Duarte Arias had, over a period of three days, strangled her, bit her, punched her, and forced her back into the apartment when she tried to escape.

The woman’s injuries included bite marks to her forehead, subconjunctival hemorrhages in the eyes and petechiae and enlarged vessels in the mouth (consistent with strangulation), bruised gums, and swelling of her right foot and ankle. She was transported to the hospital, where doctors determined that her foot was fractured.

As part of the investigation, detectives ordered a strangulation assessment for the woman and forensic interviews of the children in the home. One child was present during the assault, and another had witnessed prior acts of domestic violence.

“The investigation revealed a pattern of escalating abuse designed to isolate and control the victim,” said Assistant District Attorney Ashley Snow, of the Domestic Violence Unit, who prosecuted this case on behalf of the State. “When the victim decided to end the relationship over the defendant’s repeated infidelity, he used violence in an attempt to intimidate and force her to stay in the relationship.”

After the non-negotiated plea, Judge Wallace sentenced Duarte Arias to 30 years, with the first 20 years to serve in prison, followed by probation. She also ordered him to pay restitution and have no contact with the named victims.

“The victim in this case endured ongoing abuse before receiving the help she needed,” said District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway. “Particularly troubling were the acts of strangulation, which are among the strongest indicators that domestic violence may become lethal. This sentence holds the defendant accountable for his actions, protects the victim from further harm, and sends a clear message that this type of violence will not be tolerated.”

The case was investigated by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ashley Snow of the Domestic Violence Unit, Office of the District Attorney, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit.

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Information About Domestic Violence

Domestic violence typically follows a pattern, with tension building, followed by a major act of violence, a calm period, and then cycling back to tension building. As time passes, the violent episodes often get more serious and may lead to a lethal act. According to the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention, strangulation is one of the most lethal forms of domestic violence. Odds for homicide increase substantially for victims who have been previously strangled.

If you or someone you know is impacted by domestic violence, please contact the Cherokee Family Violence Center, CFVC.org, 770-479-1703 (24/7 crisis hotline).

In case of an emergency, call 911.

06/02/2026

Last week, Cherokee County GA School District Chief Support Services Officer Trey Moores provided members of the District Attorney’s Office with a tour of the new Cherokee High School campus on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Canton.

The campus features a three-story classroom building, career pathway center, cafeteria, 1,000-seat auditorium, and multi-sport athletic complex that includes a 4,500-seat football stadium.

During our tour, we reviewed the school’s extensive safety features that enhance security, improve emergency response, and support law enforcement monitoring, all with the goal of protecting students.

We were very impressed with this outstanding new facility and are excited for its official opening on August 3, marking the first day of the 2026-27 academic year.

Thank you Trey Moores for the amazing tour!

05/28/2026

NEWS RELEASE: Man Sentenced to Life after Pleading Guilty to Five-Hour Assault and R**e of Woman

District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway announces that on May 28 Ezekiel Lamar Jackson, 23, of Canton, entered a negotiated guilty plea and was sentenced to serve life in prison with the possibility of parole for the brutal assault and r**e of a woman he arranged to come to his apartment to provide a residential cleaning service.

Jackson pled guilty to all 10 charges he faced: r**e (2 counts), aggravated so**my (3 counts), kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery (2 counts), and terroristic threats.

Canton Police Department, GA began investigating this case on April 6 after Northside Cherokee Hospital reported a female patient had been physically and s*xually assaulted. The woman, a residential cleaner, had been held against her will in Jackson’s apartment while he attacked her.

During the May 28 hearing, Assistant District Attorney Kelly Chavis presented the factual basis for the plea. On April 5, in response to a Nextdoor post requesting an apartment cleaning, the victim set up an appointment with Jackson. She arrived at his one-bedroom apartment at 10 a.m. on April 6 and walked through the unit to determine the scope of the cleaning.

While she was standing in the bathroom, Jackson attacked her without warning, stabbing her in the face and eye with a small screwdriver and forcing his fingers down her throat to prevent her from screaming. He applied pressure to her neck until she felt she was losing consciousness and caused her head to hit the bathroom counter when he pushed her to the floor.

Over the next five hours, Jackson s*xually assaulted her multiple times, restrained her so she could not leave, and threatened to kill her if she tried to escape.

Throughout the day, the woman’s face and eye continued to bleed from the stabbing injuries. Eventually, she persuaded Jackson to allow her to go to Northside Cherokee Hospital, agreeing to tell medical staff she had fallen and struck her face on a counter. Jackson accompanied her to the hospital and waited while she was treated.

Physicians determined that she had suffered an orbital fracture and brain bleeds as a result of the head trauma. She was then transported to the Kennestone Intensive Care Unit, where she received treatment.

Jackson was arrested in the waiting room of Northside Cherokee Hospital.

Canton police officers executed search warrants on the apartment and the defendant’s cell phone. In the apartment, detectives seized a bloody towel, the screwdriver used in the assault, first-aid supplies, and other items consistent with the victim’s account.

A search warrant on Jackson’s cell phone revealed that 15 different people had responded to his Nextdoor post requesting an apartment cleaner. All other respondents were male or from larger cleaning companies. Jackson responded to this victim only.

“Evidence suggests this defendant intentionally targeted this victim because she was a woman working alone,” said Assistant District Attorney Kelly Chavis, who prosecuted this case on behalf of the State. “He is a dangerous man, and the brutality of his actions is shocking. The victim demonstrated great courage and strength, and ultimately saved her own life in the face of such evil.”

During the hearing, the victim delivered an impact statement detailing the events of that day, the ongoing physical and emotional impact, and the effect it has had on her children. She also thanked the community for its support.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Chief Superior Court Judge David L. Cannon Jr. sentenced Jackson as negotiated. He will serve a life sentence with the possibility of parole, followed by 40 years on probation. He must pay restitution and have no contact with the victim. During probation, he is barred from Georgia except for Effingham County and Clayton County in the area of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. He must also register as a s*x offender, abide by s*x offender conditions of probation, receive a psychos*xual evaluation and treatment, and receive a mental health evaluation and treatment.

“The defendant’s conduct was torturous and horrific,” said District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway. “For five hours, this victim endured unimaginable violence. A sentence of life in prison is the only appropriate outcome for the deeply disturbing actions of this defendant.”

The case was investigated by the Canton Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kelly Chavis of the Gang/Organized Crime Unit.

05/22/2026

On Monday, May 25, the District Attorney’s Office will be closed for Memorial Day.

Please join us in honoring this important holiday by remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.