Rawls guilty, sentenced to life without parole in 2015 shooting death

Published 8:10 pm Friday, March 1, 2019

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It took a jury just over 30 minutes to return a guilty verdict in the case of the 2015 shooting death of Geoffrey “Joc” Jones, Jr. at his residence in Crisp County.

According to a press release issued by Cordele Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brad Rigby, 30-year-old Christopher Rawls was pronounced guilty of malice murder, felony murder, four counts of aggravated assault, three counts of kidnapping, home invasion, armed robbery, burglary, theft by taking of a motor vehicle, and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Rawls will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. Superior Court Judge Chris Hughes sentenced Rawls to serve a composite sentence of life without parole and two additional consecutive life sentences, Rigby said.

From the press release issued by Rigby’s office shortly after 7 p.m. on Friday:

“The verdict stems from the November 22, 2015 shooting of Geoffrey Jones, Jr. “Joc” at his home on Old Penia Road in Crisp County, where he lived with his girlfriend and their daughter. Rawls and his co-defendant Harold Brown held Jones’ girlfriend and others at gunpoint inside the home and lured Jones back to the residence. Jones confronted the attackers and was shot twice with two different guns. Upon leaving the residence, Rawls and Brown stole a vehicle from the residence as their getaway car… Brown, 48, had previously pled guilty to armed robbery and aggravated assault and received a sentenced (sic) of 20 years to serve without parole followed by 20 years of probation. The third co-defendant John Frank Dunlap’s case remains pending. Rigby extends his gratitude to the law enforcement professionals of the GBI and the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office for all of their diligence and efforts in the prosecution of the case.”