2 men charged with stealing Bibb County Board of Education vehicle as teens: records
Two people were indicted for allegedly stealing a vehicle belonging to the Bibb County Board of Education while possessing guns and marijuana as minors.
Christopher Michael Cornelius Jr., 19, and Jayhlen Nuk Murphy, 19, were indicted Monday on charges stemming from an incident on Feb. 3, 2024, in which they allegedly were driving the stolen vehicles.
Deputies were alerted to two stolen Hyundai vehicles traveling on Walnut and Pursley streets. Authorities spotted the cars and attempted to stop both the vehicles, but the drivers fled the scene, according to an incident report.
The cars were driving 50 mph in a residential area as they allegedly evaded the deputies, the report said.
“At that time, the blue Hyundai Tucson proceeded through a grass area and the Hyundai Sonata made a right onto (Second) Avenue,” the report said.
The responding deputy followed the Hyundai Tucson. He saw the car stop and two teenagers exit the vehicle, according to the report.
When the teens were caught, deputies allegedly found an H&K 9mm firearm and less than an ounce of marijuana in Cornelius’s possession.
Murphy allegedly ran away from the deputies after the traffic stop, court records showed.
They were both 17 at the time of the incident.
The incident report did not mention what occurred to the driver of the Hyundai Sonata.
Cornelius was charged with theft by receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and, as a person under the age of 18, eluding a police officer and possessing less than an ounce of marijuana, according to court records.
Murphy faces theft by receiving stolen property, obstruction of an officer and eluding a police officer charges, court records showed.
What sentences do they face?
If convicted, Cornelius and Murphy face between one and 10 years in prison for the theft by receiving stolen property charge. They also face fines of between $1,000-$5,000 and up to a year in prison if convicted of eluding a police officer.
Cornelius faces an additional five years in prison if convicted of the gun possession during the commission of a felony charge. He could also face up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine for his gun possession as a minor charge.
He’ll also face between one and 10 years in prison if convicted of possessing marijuana.
If Murphy is convicted of his obstructing law enforcement charge, he’ll face a $1,000 fine and up to a year in prison.
