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NCSO H.E.A.T. Unit to target drunk drivers
0319NCSO-Heat
Darryl Welch
Updated: Mar 17, 2017, 7:07 PM
Published: Mar 17, 2017, 7:09 PM

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) H.E.A.T.  (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) Unit will be out in full force this weekend looking for St. Patrick’s Day celebrants who drink and drive.

NCSO Corporal Jacob Rice, the road supervisor for the unit, said H.E.A.T. will be out today starting at 6 p.m. through 3 a.m. Saturday morning looking for drunk drivers, aggressive drivers, speeders and seat belt violations.

Rice said the unit will also be out in force Saturday night looking for those who continue the party through the weekend.

The NCSO H.E.A.T.  Unit is sponsored by the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The program was established to reduce serious injuries and highway fatalities.

Since its inception in November 2016, the NCSO unit has made 1,565 contacts for seat belt violations, speeding and DUI. According to Rice, contacts include warnings, citations and arrests. Of the 1,565 contacts, 83 were for DUI.

Rice has first-hand knowledge of the dangers of drunk drivers on the road. He said three times, while on patrol, he was almost hit head-on by a drunk driver. He said he was able to turn around and arrest the driver all three times.

Rice also had some simple advice for people going out to celebrate this weekend.

“If you have something to drink, find a designated driver, get a taxi or UBER, or get somebody to pick you up,” he said, “There will be no tolerance for DUI.”

NCSO Public information Officer Sgt. Cortney Morrison said in a press release, “If you see someone who appears to be driving drunk, call 911. The term ‘See something, say something’ applies to traffic as well as crimes in general. Your actions could help save a life.”
Newton County jury finds Covington man guilty of felony murder
Shane Robinson
Shane Robinson - photo by Courtesy of the Newton County Sheriff's Office
Kate Verity
Published: Mar 31, 2025, 9:15 PM

NEWTON COUNTY – On Monday afternoon, 30-year-old Shane Alexander Robinson of Covington was found guilty of killing Charles Edward Stanley III over three years ago.

The Newton County District Attorney’s Office released that a jury deemed that Robinson was guilty on three charges: Felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

On March 5, 2022, sometime between 11 p.m. and midnight, Robinson shot an AR-style firearm at a vehicle that Stanley was driving along Harvey Wood Drive. According to the District Attorney’s release, Robinson fired the weapon 13 times into the vehicle, killing Stanley.

According to a previous report by The Covington News, an arrest warrant stated that Robinson “grabbed his AR-15 (rifle) and drove” from his home to Harvey Wood Drive to “scare” Stanley.

“When Charles was backing up, Shane admitted to firing several rounds at the vehicle,” the 2022 warrant stated. “Furthermore, Shane also initially stated that he fired rounds at the vehicle as it was driving away.”

Robinson initially faced charges of murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, unauthorized discharge of firearms within 50 yards of the public highway, and reckless conduct. It is not clear if some of these charges were dismissed.

Sentencing is set for a later date, which has not been announced. A co-defendant’s case is still pending.