11 Employees Fired From Augusta YDC Since November; More Firings Expected

The investigation at the Augusta Youth Development Campus continues with 11 people off the job, the most recent firing Tuesday.

The GBI and the Department of Juvenile Justice are still investigating the Augusta YDC, after 19-year-old Jade Holder died back in November.

The fate is set for the man accused of killing Holder.

The District Attorney says 17-year-old Michael Everidge was indicted on 2 counts Tuesday; one for malice murder and one for felony murder.

Judge Daniel Craig will preside over the case and that arraignment is Friday, February 10^th at the Augusta Judicial Center. 

And now nearly 3 months after the murder of Holder, the GBI and DJJ continue to interview staff at the facility.

Just this week, another corrections officer, Tracy Banks, is off the job.

DJJ Commissioner Gale Buckner is says Banks is accused of having inappropriate relationships with an inmate at the facility.

Buckner says more terminations are expected as part of that on-going investigation.

This week, DJJ representatives and local lawmakers held a town hall to get input about what needs to be done to prevent another homicide.

The DJJ special inspection team has visited several YDC facilities across Georgia, to make sure policies are in place.

“This task force has been able to go into 26 facilities in 6 weeks and look at every area of that facility from the parking lot to the back door, to eliminate contraband,” said Augusta District Director for DJJ, Angela Cosby.

Some facilities like the Augusta YDC have been the target of several inspections, after Jade Holder’s death in November, making it the first homicide at any state wide facility.

“Unfortunately we were the first but we don’t want to see a second or third or fourth or fifth not only in Augusta but in Georgia or the nation period,” said Augusta Commissioner, Alvin Mason.

Since November, nearly a dozen employees have been fired from the Augusta YDC. This comes after an investigation by the GBI and DJJ, and Commissioner Gale Buckner says, there could be more.

Here’s at timeline of events since November, 2011 at the Augusta YDC.

NOVEMBER 7^th- 19-YEAR-OLD JADE HOLDER BEATEN INSIDE AUGUSTA YDC BY ANOTHER 17-YEAR-OLD INMATE

NOVEMBER 8^th – JADE HOLDER DIES MARKS FIRST HOMICIDE AT AUGUSTA YDC

NOVEMBER 9^th– GUARD, MARLON MCREARY FIRED FOR NOT LOCKING DOORS TO UNIT 43

NOVEMBER 9^th – JUVENILE CORRECTION OFFICER (SECURITY), HEATHER GATES, SUSPENDED

NOVEMBER 10^th – CAPTAIN (SECURITY), VICTOR MARTIN, SUSPENDED

NOVEMBER 14^th – NEW DJJ COMMISSIONER GALE BUCKNER APPOINTED

DECEMBER 4^th – 14-YEAR-OLD INMATE ALLEGES SODOMY INCIDENT BY ANOTHER 17-YEAR-OLD YOUTH

DECEMBER 5^th – SARDIS POLICE CHIEF GARY JONES SERVES AS INTERRIM DIRECTOR

DECEMBER 5^th – DIRECTOR JOHN BRADY TERMINATED

DECEMBER 16^th -3 FIRED (SHARON TAYLOR , NATASHA NEELEY, CHRISTOPHER CANN), 2 DEMOTED (PAUL CLOUTIER, KENDRA STOWBRIDGE) – INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIPS/FAILURE TO REPORT CONTRABAND

JANUARY 14^th – 18-YEAR-OLD INMATE REPORTS SEXUAL ASSAULT

JANUARY 17^th – 1 SUSPENDED (LATONYA DURDEN)

JANUARY 18^th – 1 FIRED (CHARLES MCGRUDER), 1 SUSPENDED (STEVEN WHITAKER)

JANUARY 19^th – 1 FIRED (EDWARD HENDERSON)

JANUARY 24^th - CAPTAIN VICTOR MARTIN FIRED, JUVENILE CORRECTION OFFICER TRACY BANKS AFTER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT - SUSPENDED, 1 DISCIPLINED – LOST KEYS

JANUARY 24^th – 20 GBI AGENTS INTERVIEW YDC STAFF (ABOUT CONTRABAND/SEXUAL MISCONDUCT)

JANUARY 25^th —2 JCO OFFICERS FIRED FOR POLICY VIOLATIONS (KENNETH PAYTON AND DONDALE STROMAN)

JANUARY 31^st – 1 FIRED (TRACY BANKS)

That brings the total number of officers fired to 11, and counting.

“We’ve got some serious issues here within our Department of Juvenile Justice System  here in Augusta Richmond County. I’m encouraged that they are now taking the steps that are necessary in getting rid of those bad apples that have caused the whole bunch to look like they’re terrible,” said Mason.

“A year ago I was ready to go but now I’m ready to stay and help her fight this fight,” said Cosby.

Here’s a look back at the history of the Augusta Youth Development Campus.

-          AUGUSTA YDC OPENS IN 1972

-          AUGUSTA YDC PRIVATIZED IN JULY 2003

-          AUGUSTA YDC CLOSES IN FEB 2004

-          AUGUSTA YDC OPENS IN NOVEMBER 2004 AS A STATE OPERATION

-          NEW AUGUSTA YDC CAMPUS OPENS  NOV 2007 ($1.3 M)

And the personnel actions, reach far beyond Augusta. Last week, Commissioner Buckner fired a corrections officer in Columbus, Ga.

Next month, the interim director of the YDC, Gary Jones will finish his term with the YDC, so we’ll get a closer look at how things are inside the facility.