Clayton News Daily

By Jason A. Smith

jsmith@henryherald.com

An area teenager will likely spend the first few days of 2009 in the Henry County Jail, after being arrested in connection with an alleged robbery at a gas station on Christmas Eve.

Courtney Jamal Taylor, 17, of Stockbridge, is charged with armed robbery and aggravated assault. He is currently being held without bond.

Henry County Police are investigating the incident, which reportedly took place at 5180 N. Henry Blvd., in Stockbridge.

Jeff Cofer, with the Henry County Public Defender's Office, is representing Taylor, and provided details regarding the charges against his client.

Cofer said Taylor and two others, whose names were not given, are accused of assaulting two people at the gas station.

"[The victims were] beaten in the head with a pistol," he said. "So there's blood evidence that the police are going to attempt to use to link Mr. Taylor with that particular robbery through DNA analysis."

The defense attorney added that police also suspect Taylor, and the other two individuals, of robbing a beauty-supply store near the gas station.

"Video evidence from both the gas station and beauty store ... shows three individuals, with black hoods and jeans, committing both robberies," said Cofer.

Taylor appeared in Henry County Magistrate Court Friday, and his case was reset for Jan. 5. Cofer said he expects additional details regarding the alleged robbery will be revealed at that time.

If a judge determines probable cause existed to justify the charges against Taylor, he will be bound over to Henry County Superior Court, and his bond will be set there, at a later date.