Georgia Judge Sanford Jones Killed in Plane Crash
Mike Gallagher
Authorities have reported a plane crash in Lee County, Ala at about 11:52 a.m. Friday. Officials said the plane went down near Lee Road and Route 112.
Police said there are two people dead and two people injured. Lee County Coroner Bill Harris confirmed that Jones, the 56-year-old presiding judge of the Fulton County Juvenile Court in Atlanta, was killed. Harris identified the other fatality as Alexander "Sasha" Medina, 18, of Newnan, Ga., the front-seat passenger.
Jones was a graduate of UGA and was appointed to the Fulton County Juvenile Court in 1992. He presided over a number of news worthy cases including the House of Prayer trial, whicn involved the discipline of juveniles in underaged marriages condoned by the House of Prayer Church.
Judge Jones was also good friends with the late Judge Rowland Barnes.
Fulton County Court spokesperson Don Plummer read a statement from the Juvenile Court Chief Judge Belinda E. Edwards. "We are shocked and deeply saddened at the sudden loss of our friend and steadfast advocated for children and families. Our court will be forever indebted to Judge Jones for his innovations that have become models for juvenile courts nation wide. Our prayers go out to Judge Jones' family."
In a statement, Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Sears said, "Judge Jones was a compassionate public servant, whose single purpose was to improve the lives of some many troubled young people who came into his court. He worked tirelessly for our children, and understook better than anyone that all young lives are worth saving."
Harris said two backseat passengers on the six-seater aircraft, Sarah Conklin 19, and Joshua Rumohr, 18, both of Newnan, survived and one dialed 911 to direct emergency crews to the site. Paramedics took the injured to East Alabama Medical Center. They have minor injuries and are expected to be released.
"They said there was some kind of trouble, not specified, with the aircraft. They were unable to stay in the air," said a local sheriff. "It appears that the aircraft did come in low and clip some trees at the edge of a hay field."
The plane is described as a single engine aircraft referred to as a Bonanza or BE 36, registered Louis Levenson from Atlanta.
According to the Web site FlightAware.com, the flight originated at Destin-Fort Walton airport at 10:44 a.m. central and was heading for Newnan Coweta County Airport.
