Trial set for mid-June after "speedy trial" motion filed

Posted Tuesday, May 8, 2018 9:06 pm

Three individuals charged with the murder of a 74-year-old man in Cartersville last year pleaded not guilty to all counts in Bartow Superior Court Tuesday morning.

Keisha Rena Cone, Rachel Savannah Ridley and Tevin Ray Harris were indicted on nine counts by a grand jury. They stand accused of one count of malice murder, three counts of felony murder, one count of armed robbery, two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of burglary in the first degree.

According to a bill of indictment, the three are accused of causing the death of James Edward Stephens by striking him "about the head with an unknown, solid object similar to a metal bar" during a robbery at the victim's residence at 42 Country Lane in Cartersville on or about Aug. 4, 2017.

Bartow County Sheriff's Office investigators discovered Stephens' body almost a month later. A medical examiner's report ruled Stephens' death to be the result of blunt force injuries.

Ridley and Cone, both of Cartersville, were arrested on Sept. 8 and Sept. 13, respectively. Harris, a resident of Dalton, was arrested Sept. 19.

Harris' attorney, Daniel D. Morgan, filed a motion for a speedy trial — a demand that the case be tried within a specified period of time. Under Georgia law, if a case is not tried within the current or subsequent term of court after a motion is filed, "the defendant shall be absolutely discharged and acquitted of the offense charged in the indictment or accusation."

Cherokee Judicial Circuit Judge David K. Smith said the motion was filed in the February term.



"We are now in the May term and our next week of trial is June 18," he said. "According to the statute and case law, we try demand cases first, so this would be the highest priority case."

Under Georgia Code 16-5-1, the defendants would be sentenced to life in prison, life in prison without the possibility of parole or death if convicted of felony murder.