District Attorney Keith Higgins announced that Neneto Blake, 35, of Auburn, Maine, entered a negotiated guilty plea in Jeff Davis Superior Court on February 26, 2024, to one count of Aggravated Assault and one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
According to the statement released by the District Attorney's office, the incident took place on Sunday, October 2, 2022, at a residence in Hazlehurst, GA. Deputy Justin Sanders of the Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the scene where tensions had escalated between individuals. The defendant, Neneto Blake, was involved in the altercation and fired shots into a crowd of individuals. Luckily, no one was injured during the shooting.
In the plea agreement, Blake was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 20 years on probation. Due to his prior felony convictions in Florida, he was sentenced as a recidivist and will not be eligible for parole. The sentencing was presided over by Judge Roger B. Lane in Brunswick Circuit Superior Court.
The driver of the vehicle, Chakkeria Lane, was also charged for her involvement in assisting Blake in fleeing after the assault. She had previously pled guilty and was sentenced in May of 2023.
Members of the media seeking further information on the case are directed to contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.