Georgia man sentenced to 35 years behind bars after ordering hit on deputy while in custody

A Hogansville, Georgia, man was sentenced to 35 years in prison Wednesday after he was found guilty of plotting to hire a hitman to murder a Troup County law enforcement official who was investigating drug charges against him.

Read The full Story

On Aug. 25, 2023, a Troup County jury found 31-year-old Jonathan Lawrence guilty of conspiracy to commit malice murder, threatening a witness and trafficking methamphetamine, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.

Read The full Story

Lawrence was pulled over by police on April 24, 2020, on East Main Street in Hogansville, and during the stop, investigators discovered two ounces of methamphetamine in the car.

Read The full Story

MAN DIES IN FULTON COUNTY JAIL AFTER BEING FOUND UNRESPONSIVE, MARKING THE 6TH INMATE TO DIE SINCE JULY

Read The full Story

Jonathan Lawrence booking photo (Troup County Sheriff's Office)

Read The full Story

The suspect was arrested after the discovery, and according to officials, he was arrested for methamphetamine possession earlier that year but released on bond because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read The full Story

The state attempted to revoke his bond, and Lawrence, authorities said, sent threatening messages to at least two people he believed were assisting with proving he violated his bond conditions.

Read The full Story

In July 2020, Lawrence was sent back to jail. While in custody, officials said an inmate told investigators Lawrence ordered a "hit" against a Troup County investigator who testified at the bond hearing.

Read The full Story

FLORIDA AG PARTNERS WITH 'AMERICA’S MOST WANTED' HOST JOHN WALSH TO PROMOTE ANONYMOUS CRIME REPORTING TIP LINE

Read The full Story

Jonathan Lawrence was sentenced to 35 years in prison Wednesday. (iStock)

Read The full Story

The station reported that officials claimed the suspect took the testimony personally because the investigator lived in the same neighborhood as he did.

Read The full Story

Deputies and the inmate worked together to record audio of Lawrence going over diverse ways to kill the drug investigator, and he even reportedly drew a map of the neighborhood he and the drug investigator lived in.

Read The full Story

GEORGIA BOY, 7, KILLED AT GAS STATION AFTER FATHER ALLEGEDLY LEAVES LOADED GUN IN CAR, DAD CHARGED WITH MURDER

Read The full Story

A jury convicted Lawrence of three charges, but acquitted him of one count each of criminal attempt to commit malice murder and threatening a witness. (iStock)

Read The full Story

Lawrence and the inmate called an undercover deputy posing as a hitman two days later, when Lawrence provided an associate’s contact information who would provide a down payment for the hit.

Read The full Story

"I am thankful that this egregious murderous plot was stopped in its infancy," District Attorney John Herbert Cranford Jr. said in a statement. "This Troup County Sheriff’s Office investigator puts his life on the line every day he is on duty, just like every law enforcement officer in this state."

Read The full Story

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Read The full Story

While the jury convicted Lawrence of three charges, it acquitted him of one count each of criminal attempt to commit malice murder and threatening a witness.

Read The full Story

Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.

Read The full Story

Did you like this story?

Please share by clicking this button!

Visit our site and see all other available articles!

Le Hérisson News