After a short deliberation Thursday morning, the jury announced Steven Edwin Adam Sellers, 37, of 49 Madden Road, Kingston, was not guilty of aggravated assault, pointing or aiming a gun or pistol at another and criminal trespass in the case that revolved around a Nov. 8, 2008, shooting at a Barnsley Garden Road, Adairsville, home.
The victim, who Sellers said he was defending himself against, sustained a gunshot wound to the groin, and the bullet then traveled into his leg. Greg Dickson, the prosecuting attorney representing Bartow County Sheriff's Office investigators, had argued Sellers traveled to the alleged victim's house after being barred from doing so, and pulled a gun, shooting the man.
Sellers and witnesses produced by the defense said the alleged victim had attacked Sellers and others in his car. The incident involved alcohol, with the defense arguing the alleged victim was much more intoxicated than Sellers, who admitted to drinking a couple of beers.
Superior Court Judge Carey Nelson sentenced Sellers to 12 months, 90 to 120 days of which he was ordered to serve in a probation detention center, followed by the balance of the term on probation.
Sellers was additionally sentenced to a 16-hour anger management course and substance abuse evaluation and treatment. His attorney, Lance Dutton, requested Nelson sentence Sellers under the First Offender statute but Nelson declined.
Sellers was also ordered to pay more than $2,500 in restitution, which did not include more than $10,000 in medical bills covered by the victim's health insurance.
Child molestation, statutory rape trial ends in directed verdict
A jury chose to hear the case of a 30-year-old man accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl never got the chance to deliberate.
Nelson directed not guilty verdicts Thursday in the case of Wacar Yousaf "Mike" Shaikh, formerly of Cartersville, who had been charged with child molestation and statutory rape.
Based on a report they received, Cartersville police charged Shaikh, now of Braselton, in connection with a July 1, 2008, incident in which he allegedly had sexual intercourse with the girl.
After the close of the prosecution's case, Shaikh's attorney, Benjamin A. Davis, moved for a directed verdicts. Nelson granted the motion, pointing to the alleged victim's testimony that Shaikh only touched her.
The judge then told Shaikh the court believes he did have sex with the girl, calling it a "reprehensible" act.