Complaint Review: Bibb County Justice System - Macon Georgia

Let me begin by saying I am a caucasian, middle-class woman earning a specialist's degree in Education. A series of events in my life has made me have a heart for those who are wrongfully accused and/or convicted of crimes. This is especially true for young, black males here in middle GA. We can not keep turning a "blind eye" to this epidemic. Please be open-minded as you read this. Please imagine if it were you in this situation. I am here to tell you if it happened to my family, it can happen to anyone. This is lengthy, but it is necessary in order to tell the whole story. My family and I appreciate you taking the time to read and hopefully visit the Governor's link and be heard. "If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to cast a stone...." John 8:7 "Then you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free" John 8:32

Specifically, I am speaking of the case of Rodrick Rawlings in Bibb County, GA. This man was a PASSENGER in a car when an accident occurred with a 31 year-old motorcyclist, Robert Morris. The driver, Edward Daniels was arrested for involuntary manslaughter the night of the accident, June 21st, 2001. The next day they came and arrested the PASSENGER, Rodrick Rawlings too. Both were arrested and charged with MALICE MURDER. What was the real crime? The passenger was now dating the EX GIRLFRIEND of the motorcyclist and the girlfriend happens to be CAUCASIAN. (I bet you thought those days were over!) Sounds bad doesn't it? Yes, until you learn the FACTS! The girlfriend had been abandoned by Morris exactly one day after she found out she was pregnant in November 1999. At the time she was helping to pay for Morris to attend Middle Georgia Technical school where he met a 19 year-old girl and began cheating on the girlfriend. The girlfriend was completely unaware of this. He was telling his other (the new one) girlfriend he was just living with this girl and they were "just friends". He continued having a relationship with the new girlfriend throughout the now ex's pregnancy. He was now living with this new, young girlfriend. He would call his ex, come by to see her, but completely deny such when the new girlfriend was around. This went on the entire pregnancy.

He was incarcerated in May 2000 for violating his probation. The ex was having a lonely and difficult pregnancy as she was carrying twins. After an emotional conversation with Morris on May 6th she went into premature labor. The babies were born May 7th. The mother was able to call the jail and have him told he was the father of twin, healthy boys. Morris was released from jail the following Friday, May 12th. This was after he told the mother she would have to pay a fine. She walked from the hospital to the probation office, a couple miles, to pay his fine. This was after he insisted he had no family or friends to help. He came to the hospital upon his release, quickly left and wasn't seen or heard from again until the next Monday morning when he reported to his probation officer. He was arrested again that day, May 15th when he reported to his probation officer with alcohol still in his system from the night before. The babies were hospitalized for three weeks. Morris came to visit the babies several times upon his eventual release and signed the birth certificates. He began using the children as a way to see the mother. He never bought one thing for the children, two little boys. In one year he never bought a pack of diapers or a single jar of baby food. He was arrested again in August 2000 for a 1994 DUI charge in Clayton County he had never taken care of. By this time the mother had been introduced by a friend to Rawlings. The two began dating. Rawlings would help her with the babies, buy necessities etc. He stepped in and assumed the role as father with little hesitation.

Morris had little contact throughout his 6 month incarceration in Clayton County. The mother tried to do the right thing by taking the boys to see him. He was there for 6 months and never had a visit from a single family member, even though he was incarcerated for Christmas and his birthday. The mother's new boyfriend even allowed her to go get him from jail because he had no other way home. Rawlings was very understanding that this was the children's biological father and did nothing to discourage them from seeing their biological father. The father shown very little interest in having a real relationship with his sons. He had never even told the ex that he had another son. She found out when she came across court papers. His excuse was that he thought she wouldn't want to date someone with a child. What kind of mine denies his own children? Once released from Clayton Co. he was transported to Bibb County where he was behind in child support for his other son. It is important to note here that Morris saw his other son about two times a year. It is also important to note that for the entire three year relationship the girlfriend had paid the majority of the child support and sent gifts to the son on Christmas and his birthday, after she found out he existed. It is also important to say that while Morris was in the Bibb County jail in June 2000 he was served with court papers. The girlfriend sued him for thousands of dollars he had borrowed and ran up on her credit cards without permission. She was successful at getting a judgement for a good portion of the money. Though she never received a dime. He was also served with child support papers.

He was released from Bibb county eventually and then in March 2000 he came to Rawlings' house unannounced to speak to the ex. No one knows how he knew Rawlings' address. Rawlings simply allowed him to speak to her. There were no words between the two. Later the ex confessed she had been physically attacked by Morris and he had been very abusive that day because he was angry she had actually moved on with her life. He had spent three years treating her anyway he wanted to and taking advantage of her. The boys' birth had finally given her the strength to let go. She knew she did not want her children to be around the emotional, physical, and alcohol abuse. Then later he came to the ex's house unannounced on March 28th at about 9:00PM. This is when things began to really escalate. He claimed he was there to see the boys, yet he knew they had been asleep since 8:00, their regular bed time. He forced his way through the door when he was told the boys were asleep. He noticed flowers Rawlings had sent her and began to get out of control. He threw the flowers out the back door. He pushed everything off the kitchen counter and onto the floor, he threw the TV on the floor. Fortunately the babies slept through it all. A neighbor heard everything. The ex ran outside for her to call the police. Rawlings came over and helped clean up the mess and said that she had to let the police take care of this before she got hurt. The ex then filed a police report. The month of April was uneventful because he had gone to stay with a friend in Atlanta while he was running from the police since a warrant had been issued.

The police caught up with him in Atlanta on May 4th and brought him here. He spent about three weeks in jail for the domestic violence, criminal trespass and child support, again, in Bibb County. He told the ex she better do whatever she had to do to get him out of this mess. She slowly became more and more fearful of him. Upon his release he became very irrational. The day after his release June 9th, 2000, he followed Rawlings and the girlfriend, with the babies in the car, down Watson Blvd. in Warner Robins, GA. He was spotted going in the opposite direction, crossed over the grass median and started following them. He was weaving in and out of traffic. He would come up behind them, and cut in front of them. He was kicking at the car. Once he banged on the window. This was at a speed of over 55 miles an hour. This is also the same description given of Morris's driving the night of the accident! He followed them until Rawlings was dropped off at his car. Morris got off the motorcycle and started yelling at Rawlings. Rawlings got in his car and drove away. Morris sped to the ex's house and trapped her and the babies in her car in the garage for over two hours. She talked to Rawlings on the cell phone, but Rawlings did not come over. Instead the cousin, Daniels came over. When Daniels drove up, Morris left because he knew someone else would now be aware of what was going on.

On June 16th, a Saturday, the ex went to talk to Morris. He was staying at his cousin's house so they were talking in the ex's car. She told him she WAS NOT going to break up with Rawlings just because after all this time he had decided he wanted to be a part of their lives. Morris poured an alcoholic drink on her, she leaned down and said, " I can't believe you did that!" She and the car were drenched. Morris then began beating her repeatedly in the back of the neck. Miraculously he paused for a moment and she darted out of the car. She ran and told two of his cousins (on his mom's side of the family-none of that side of the family attended the court date January 30, 2003) what had happened. They begged her not to call the police because Morris had been told he would get serious time if he had any more domestic violence arrests. (he had several from a previous relationship-this was unknown to the ex when they met, of course) The ex went home where Rawlings had already summoned her parents and the police. The ex talked to Morris on the phone after that and so did another witness. Morris said no one would ever be good enough for her, he became suicidal so the police were called. The ex said he was either getting help or going to jail. One cousin called a counselor. The next Tuesday the 20th the ex and Morris went to the counselor. She explained she was there for moral support. Morris said he understood, but he knew she was very knowledgeable about all his problems and he wanted her there. Morris wasn't really wanting to take responsibility for anything during the appointment, and he was extremely, depressed with a serious substance abuse problem. The counselor later stated this to the defense attorney, too.

Morris proceeded to drive to Atlanta that day, without a license since they and been suspended. He called that evening to say the bike's gear shift had messed on the interstate and he had managed to rig it back together. (His obituary stated he was a motorcycle mechanic but he had no such training.) All of this is what lead up to Thursday June 21st, 2000. There are so many facts that have been ignored by the investigators. For example, people not known by either side, saw the motorcyclist stalking the home of the young lady MINUTES before the accident. The motorcyclist was in the ex-girlfriend's neighborhood, riding by repeatedly at around 5:30, the accident had happened around 6:30. The motorcyclist had no permanent home, job or vehicle so he could not be stalked or followed. It was obvious the motorcyclist was out looking for the girlfriend. The ex girlfriend had spoken with the motorcyclist at about 5:00. He had called, pretending to ask about the boys and why she had not brought them to see him that day. She explained she had been busy and had a relative over most of the day. She further explained she had to get off the phone because she had dinner plans with her family at her sister's at 5:30. He said "are you really going to your sister's or is your boyfriend coming over?" He came into the neighborhood anyway. This was reported to the police. The motorcyclist was LEGALLY DRUNK at the time of the accident. This is in the autopsy report. The driver did NOT PERSONALLY KNOW the cyclist. Morris did not like the driver though.

The ex had allowed Daniels to drive an old Mazda she had bought for Morris. She had paid about a $1000 for it, it needed repair and she was tired of looking at it. Morris was incarcerated and it was just sitting at her house. She told Daniels to take it and drive it and pay her when he could. When Morris discovered he was driving the car he told her, "You and ol'boy can do whatever but I am gonna get that little Ed for driving MY CAR!" So Morris did not care for Daniels. There are NO WITNESSES to the actual accident. The motorcyclist had a legally documented history of domestic violence episodes with OTHER women and of violence, even drag racing. The motorcyclist had been to counseling 2 days before the accident for depression and suicidal threats. The motorcyclist had just gotten out of jail for domestic violence in June, had been released in February 2001 after serving the six months in Clayton County, GA Jail for DUI, 2nd offense. In other words, the motorcyclist had an extensive criminal background. He was also an accomplished cyclist and EXPERTS have stated the Honda Sport bike could have EASILY gotten away from the vehicle, an older 80's model Cutlass Supreme. The cyclist also had no license at the time and had wrecked the bike the week before, and the bike had malfunctioned (gear shift) the Tuesday before the accident. The cyclist had also confronted the passenger and the girlfriend several times, and the passenger walked away. He had also chased them down Watson Blvd., a main road in Warner Robins, GA, at speeds exceeding 50 miles an hour, once crossing over the median, weaving in and out of traffic,

and kicking at the car only a week before! He also had a suspended license.

There are MANY facts that have been completely ignored by the Prosecution. They see only one side and will not listen to TRUTH. They consistently added charges over a two year span. They post-poned court dates. An investigator and sheriff's radio control room officer were both reprimanded for their unprofessional behavior during the initial hearing. There is a letter from the Bibb Co. Sheriff, Modena, apologizing for their actions. The investigator even had to meet with the Rawlings family/friends to personally explain his actions. The investigator lied to the cyclist's ex-girlfriend saying they had 47 witnesses to the "chase"-more like 6, with half not being so sure what they saw. There were reports of the bike behind the car, the car behind the bike, and of the bike waiting on the car at one point. There was also a witness saying the bike had opportunities to get away if he'd wanted.

In 2002 it became known, by a very credible person, that another gentleman stated that he had talked to Morris and Morris had planned to lead Rawlings to him and a group of guys at a bar, Jock's and Jill's, which is right down the road from the accident. This was immediately reported. However, it took about a week for an investigator to return the call. The informant had to call repeatedly before anyone would listen. Suddenly this guy can't be located and they didn't even make much of an effort to find him. His parents live locally and could surely contact him. On February 30th Rawlings went for a post-sentence hearing. It was supposed to take place on the 31st but was changed to the 30th because the judge was going out of town. Rawlings found this out on Tuesday the 28th at 5:00 PM. The Rawlings family was told the judge said this would be best because he had allotted the time for it and in the weeks to follow he would be busy with trials etc. The family was made to feel it would be in their best interest to proceed as planned. Witnesses had to be contacted and one even had to change her flight. A report had been done by the probation office that Rawlings was told was to help him. When he went to talk to the probation office he was talked to about two minutes and told to write out his version of what happened and anything else he wanted to say. He was also to have people call and write in for him. He was told all he had told them so far could do "nothing but help him" .

It became known that many people were calling, and the original probation officer told everyone she was no longer working it. Many people were treated rudely, some were not called back. One was asked "why are you calling? We already talked to you." She replied, "No, you haven't, I have just been leaving messages for a week." When the report came back it was completely biased and incomplete. One witness, present in court, was included as having submitted a statement. He did not. He was never able to reach anyone. Three statements were not included. Rawlings name was misspelled. There is even some speculation that the person who did the report is a former girlfriend of Morris. This is being investigated. During the court proceeding, The DA, Elizabeth Bobbit. REPEATEDLY talked about the death and even showed pictures. Rawlings' attorney did not object and allowed her to proceed, in all fairness. Even though we were told nothing like that would happen. She also tried to say the ex girlfriend was dating both men. Although in the report it states I was the ex girlfriend. One of the states' witnesses is identified in the report as saying I was Rawlings' girlfriend. Morris's aunt got up and refused to acknowledge the twins as Morris's sons. There was one aunt and one friend present on Morris's behalf. When Rawlings lawyer called witnesses to defend what the DA was saying, the DA kept objecting. She was allowed to deviate from the case but the defense was not.

The girlfriend was placed under oath and able to get out some of the truth. The DA tried to get her to read one sentence out of context from her statement, but the girlfriend refused to read it out of context. The DA was very unprofessional and dirty about everything. The statement Rawlings wrote was used against him to say he was unremorseful and refused to take responsibility for the death. He NEVER pleaded to take responsibility for the death. He was TOLD to write HIS VERSION of what happened. Then he was penalized for telling the truth! The sentence was given after the judge said it was "taking too long" and rushed the witnesses through their statements, even wanting to know "how many more" witnesses there were. He did not even deliberate before sentencing Rawlings to 12 years to serve 6, which ends up being about 5 with time served. It was a complete joke.

There are people convicted of Aggravated Assault who hurt people and only get probation. There is really no proof a bottle ever existed. The judge participted in some unethical behavior. The Judge is also friends with Rawlings' attorney. This is another example of the "good ol'boy system" at work!!! The plea offer faxed by Bobbit also was worded differently than the one presented at court. This is another area of concern. Now we are getting ready to take it to the sentencing review committee. We are also trying to get the governor to check into it. Several innocence projects are also getting involved. We are not stopping because there has been a SERIOUS miscarriage of justice. In the meanwhile Rawlings is in the filthy Bibb County jail. He spent over 24 hrs. in a holding cell with about 30 others because there was no room. Friday the 31st Macon Telegraph reported that Rawlings pleaded guilty to "chasing the motorcycle"----------NOT TRUE! It also said Bobbitt said the two were "dating the same girl."-------NOT TRUE! The girlfriend testified to this UNDER OATH! When the trial was going to go to a jury the state had even called to girlfriend as a state's witness. Apparently they thought she was telling the truth then! A correction was printed on February 7th to clear the girlfriend's name and said the paper had received their information from Bobbitt.

As of the present the detective will not call the family back because they are still trying to get the car out of impound. They can't get anyone to call them back. They have even left a message with the captain, the detective's boss, and he will not return calls either. The family can not get them to answer to why the detectives did not thoroughly investigate the other leads in the case. When the ex girlfriend was finally able to get in touch with the detective he hung up on her when she inquired why he had not taken the leads seriously. These people are very unprofessional. One may also find it interesting to read a recent article by Houston County's DA in the Houston Home Journal. He wrote a very offensive article the week of 3/5/03 about the "Racial Justice Act". One can clearly see this racist attitude exists throughout Middle Georgia. Young black men do not have a prayer in Middle Georgia UNLESS concerned people get involved. Here are some other facts of the case. The original lawyer retained by the family ADMITTED he was a RECOVERING ADDICT due to his wife having an affair on him and she was "hanging around people" he was representing. This was confessed during a meeting with two witnesses as the attorney was being questioned about why he had not taken the defendant's phone calls, as he said he would, and did not visit the defendant, and also had improperly recorded payments made to him. He said after learning of his wife's affair, he then decided he would "drink as much, smoke as much," as them to "see what it was like". (direct quote) He was fired by Rawlings. The family was told by the attorney they could get $2500 of their money back if they dropped the grievance filed with the GA Bar Association. The family declined. The Bar Association decided not to act on this.

The corruption is across the board. Why would a family fire an attorney and lose thousands of dollars, if he was effective counsel? It makes no sense. None of it does. Eventually the young men were talked into a plea. The driver is serving 15 years for vehicular homicide. The passenger, Rodrick Rawlings, took a "best interest plea" to aggravated assault. He allegedly threw a bottle. This is a bottle no one has. He says at one time he stuck his head out the window and told the cyclist to "grow up and act like a man". He assumes this is when someone THOUGHT he threw SOMETHING. He did not. The alleged bottle did not cause any damage to the bike or cyclist. The bottle was not recovered. There was no evidence of bottles in the car or that the men had been drinking. It was explained that he is not admitting guilt by taking this type of plea. He was concerned about this since God is a God of truth and truth sets you free! He is only charged with throwing a bottle that COULD have caused damage. He is not charged with any thing death related. This is what the prosecutors do. They get the people to plea, just so they can "save face" and make themselves look as though "they won". This is especially so with indignant defendants. The prosecutors do not want to know the truth! Innocent people continue to go to jail for crimes they did not commit, many times due to fear.

This MUST STOP! Recently (The second week of January) Illinois's Governor George Ray let 117 off death row and set 4 men free. The four men had not committed the crime they spent 12-17 years on death row for allegedly committing. The brother of Morris also stated on Feb. 1st he knew Morris had a temper and knew the girlfriend always tried to help him. The brother does not blame the girlfriend. These are just some of the facts. This is happening EVERY day ALL OVER the United States. Our criminal justice system is very flawed and it will take people like YOU to become involved and change it.

I am asking those who care to contact our newly elected Christian Governor Sonny Perdue by writing: The Honorable Sonny Perdue Governor State of Georgia 203 State Capitol Atlanta, Georgia 30334 404-656-1776 You can also visit the link on this page and e-mail the Governor. I was on the Governor's campaign because I wanted to see a true man of God in office. I am confident he WILL listen and investigate this to help fix the justice system. My first goal is to help the young men who are being forced to pay for something they did not do, Edward Daniels and Rodrick Rawlings. I want my children to no longer have to ask me "where's daddy?". Then I hope to fight for CHANGE in this system to help make it where NO ONE will ever have to go through something like this. It is NOT supposed to be "guilty until proven innocent", but it is. Please send emails to [email protected]

Tammy

31088, Georgia
U.S.A.