GBI arrests two juvenile inmates after escape attempt, charged as adults

BURKE COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) – The two juvenile inmates that escaped while being transported from a court case and assaulted a Jenkins County deputy have been charged as adults, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The GBI states in an official release that Brandon Davis, 14, and Corinthian Newton, both of Millen, Georgia, were arrested and charged by the GBI with two felony counts of Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer with a Firearm.

According to investigators, Davis and Newtown escaped from Jenkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Milo Perry on Georgia Highway 56 in Waynesboro while being taken to the Regional Youth Detention Center in Augusta, Georgia.

Investigators state Davis and Newton were captured after a lengthy manhunt involving numerous law enforcement agencies.

They were found in a storage container at the end of Ponderosa Road.

The person who owns the storage container was home when the inmates were found. He said they trashed the inside of it, and were found inside a Christmas tree box.

After being processed at the Burke County Jail, they were taken to the Augusta Regional Youth Detention Center where they are being detained.

“When the dogs got on ‘em, they surrendered,” said Burke County Colonel Jimmy Wylds. “They wanted to argue a little bit, but I think they were whipped and just tired.”

The GBI told NewsChannel 6 they are each being charged with two counts of aggravated assault because they shot at two deputies, but didn’t hit them.

“There was a shot that was fired at the Jenkins County deputy and they took off on foot,” said GBI Special Agent in Charge Pat Morgan. “And shortly after, a Burke County deputy arrived and when he was trying to locate them there was a shot fired when he was out trying to locate them as well.”

But, they did end up knocking Jenkins County Deputy Milo Perry unconscious. He’s now out of the hospital and expected to make a full recovery.

The Burke County Sheriff’s Office credited Georgia Department of Corrections Agent Anna Stinson and bloodhound JoJo for finding them.

Agent Stinson wasn’t available for an interview, but the department said its canines are trained to track humans, narcotics, cell phones and explosives.

Col. Wylds said once the hounds got the scent, it was over.

“We knew where they went in at, and when the bloodhound got here they went in the woods where we thought they went in and they picked up a scent,” he said. “I’m telling you there’s some treacherous briars and trees in there, it’s very thick, so it’s impressive they got as far as they did.”

The GBI is urging anyone who knows anything to contact them.

“If there’s somebody that was there or was in the area that GBI has not talked to or located yet, we ask that they give us a call,” Special Agent Morgan said.

Click here to contact the GBI regarding this case.

GBI states that this investigation is active and ongoing. Afterward, it will be turned over to the district attorney’s office.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.