By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Pre-teen arrested for bringing toy gun to school
Crime - LOCAL
Evan Newton
Published: Oct 29, 2024, 4:56 PM

NEWTON COUNTY – Yet another student faces charges for an incident involving the safety of schools.

On Oct. 28, a 12-year-old male student at Liberty Middle School was arrested for bringing a toy gun onto campus. The arrest was announced on Oct. 29 by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO).

According to the NCSO, the student is being charged with possession of a weapon in a school safety zone, a felony charge. The case has been turned over to the juvenile court system.

In the last two months, around a dozen students have been arrested due to incidents that pertain to the safety of schools. Many have been arrested on terroristic threats charges. Others, such as this student, have been arrested for bringing weapons on school grounds.

It is not clear as of this writing if any of the students that have been arrested in the last two months have faced any disciplinary action.
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.