The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested three individuals linked to a burglary in Camden County. According to an official press release, former Assistant Magistrate Judge William Ashe, 64, Merinda Watson, 64, and Troy Dennis Cox, 68, face charges stemming from a March incident involving illegal entry to a property and subsequent damages. GBI's website reports Ashe and Watson with one count of burglary, while Cox faces an additional count of 2nd Degree Criminal Damage to Property.
The GBI's involvement came at the request of the Camden County Sheriff’s Office after the discovery of the altered documents presented by Cox. The GBI's statement narrates that Cox entered the property taking various items and causing damage. It is purported that Watson created these documents, which were then supplied to Cox by Ashe. Upon Cox's entry to the property, Ashe erroneously confirmed the legality of the documents to an on-duty deputy.
After their arrest, the trio was booked into Camden County Jail and has subsequently been released on bond. The investigation remains active, with the GBI encouraging anyone with further information to contact their regional investigative office in Kingsland or submit tips through their website or the See Something, Send Something mobile app. The future of this case, after the investigation wraps, lies in the hands of the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office, which will review the GBI's findings for possible prosecution.
