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Friday, Nov. 20, 2009

Charges dismissed against teen who had been accused in Perry beating

WARNER ROBINS — Charges have been dismissed against a 17-year-old who had been accused in the alleged gang-related beating of Perry man Sept. 7.

Houston County District Attorney Kelly Burke said all the charges against Jaron Rashad Farms of Perry were dismissed Thursday.

Based on the completed investigation, Burke said, “We do not believe he was involved.”

Farms was originally charged by Perry police as a party to aggravated assault and participation in criminal street gang activity. He was additionally charged with aggravated battery and aggravated assault.

Larzarnia Adkison, the mother of Farms, fought to have all of the charges dismissed. She said she knew her son was innocent, was not at the scene of the incident and she said she drove a teenager who was involved to the District Attorney’s Office. She also hired James Rockefeller, a Warner Robins attorney.

“I’ve very grateful,” Adkison said of the charges being dropped. However, Adkison said she is still upset with Perry police for the way the case was handled and noted that she had to incur the expense of hiring an attorney. She said her son was not a gang member and was at home with her and a nephew when the incident occurred.

Jason Clem, 36, was assaulted when out for an evening walk in what Perry police described as a gang initiation. Clem was walking in the Tuck Road and Linden Street area when a car pulled in front of him. A man stepped out of the car, asked for directions and then started beating Clem with the handle of a gun before he was able to escape and get help at a nearby home.

Eartavious Cantrell Harrison, 19, was charged with aggravated assault and participation in criminal street gang activity. He also faces charges of aggravated battery and possession of a gun during the commission of a crime. Harrison was being held at the Houston County jail.

Colin Dugger, 17, and Jarrod Billings, 18, both of Perry, were later charged with party to the crime of aggravated assault in the beating. Dugger and Billings are free on a $1,500 bond each. Adkison drove Dugger to the District Attorney’s Office, where he turned himself in Oct. 13. Dugger, a friend of her son’s, admitted that he was the driver and her son was not there, Adkison said.

Adkison said her son was humiliated, having been arrested at Perry High School in front of other students. Adkison said she also told Perry police her story Sept. 17 but no one would listen to her. She said her son was forced to spend 34 days in jail.

Information from The Telegraph’s archives was used in this report.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559.