On September 13, 2023, a Carroll County jury returned a verdict of guilty against Chauncey Jammal Barnhart, 33, of Douglasville, Georgia, for four counts of Armed Robbery, three counts of Burglary in the First Degree, and one count of Simple Assault. Superior Court Judge Erica Tisinger presided over the trial and sentenced the defendant to 10 years in prison without parole followed by 10 years on probation.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Lara Todd and DA Investigator Becky Byrd prosecuted the case, and Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Ametrice Jackson was the lead investigator.
The evidence presented at trial showed that on October 20, 2021, Chauncey Barnhart drove Chase Glass, Kaitlyn Arnold, an indicted codefendant who has yet to be arrested, and another unidentified female to the Budget Inn on Colombia Drive. The group was going to the Budget Inn to punish the victim for disrespecting Kaitlyn Arnold, who had identified the victim for the group. Once at the Budget Inn, members of the group entered the victim’s hotel room without authority, beat the victim, then robbed the victim and another person in the room at gunpoint.
The investigation began on October 20, 2021, following a 911 call and law enforcement’s arrival at the Budget Inn. During the course of the investigation, Inv. Jackson was able to identify Glass, Barnhart, and Arnold as the parties involved in the attack on the victims. Inv. Jackson secured warrants for the arrest of the involved parties and conducted interviews with them. During the course of the investigation, Glass would accept responsibility for his actions during the incident and would admit to beating the victim and stealing numerous items from him.
Arnold would likewise admit to her involvement in the case and provided details of the actions of the group both before, during and after the incident.
In January 2022, a Carroll County Grand Jury returned a True Bill of indictment against all four defendants, as parties to the crime. In April 2023, Chase Glass and Kaitlyn Arnold each entered guilty pleas for their involvement in this case. Arnold was sentenced to 4 years in confinement followed by 11 years on probation and Glass was sentenced to 7 years in confinement followed by 8 years on probation.
The DA’s Office sincerely appreciates the hard work and dedication of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office in ensuring that all victims of crime are able to receive justice.
