Kelvin Jeffrey Jones, a 58-year-old resident of Brunswick, GA, was found guilty by a Glynn County jury of Aggravated Assault by Strangulation. District Attorney Keith Higgins revealed that the jury deliberated for a mere 10 minutes before arriving at their decision.
During the trial, it was revealed that on July 8, 2020, Jones had a physical altercation with his girlfriend at the Oleander Motel in Brunswick. The victim was dragged into their room, strangled, and hit in the face by Jones, who also prevented her from calling for help by throwing her phone. The victim managed to contact the authorities using a neighbor's phone, and upon arrival, the Brunswick Police officers observed visible injuries consistent with the reported assault.
In a subsequent incident on July 24, 2023, Jones assaulted the victim again, resulting in a head laceration that required hospitalization. The victim, despite the repeated abuse, initially refused to prosecute Jones and denied the assaults. She even admitted to lying to cover up for him on multiple occasions.
Assistant District Attorney Leland McElveen Jr, who prosecuted the case, emphasized the importance of intervening in situations of abuse, stating, "The jurors were able to see the cycle of repeated abuse the defendant committed against the victim and understood that sometimes you have to step in to help someone that can’t help themselves." He commended the jurors for holding Jones accountable for his actions as a domestic abuser.
Jones faces sentencing on Thursday, March 7th, and due to his prior felony convictions, he may receive a maximum sentence of 20 years without the possibility of parole. For further inquiries, the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office can be contacted at 912-554-7200.