McRae Man Charged with Theft of AED from Telfair County Courthouse

MCRAE-HELENA, Ga.—A Telfair County man has been arrested for allegedly stealing an automated external defibrillator (AED) from the Telfair County Courthouse.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Telfair County Sheriff’s Office have charged James Richard Joines Jr., 56, with one count of Misdemeanor Theft by Taking and one count of Felony Interference with Government Property.

The investigation began on September 9 after Sheriff Sim Davidson requested the GBI’s assistance with the alleged theft. Investigators discovered that Joines had taken the AED and removed it from the courthouse. The device was recovered during the investigation.

Joines was taken into custody at the Telfair County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, September 17. The investigation is still active and ongoing.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Eastman at 478-374-6988. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Once complete, it will be given to the Oconee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.