A Stone Mountain man vanished from a Coweta County courtroom in the middle of jury deliberations, only to be convicted and sentenced while on the run, authorities say. Deputies later tracked him down in Carroll County and arrested him hours after the verdict and sentencing.
Prosecutors identified the defendant as 36-year-old Jeffrey Spencer Causey and said jurors found him guilty of three counts of aggravated assault, one count of terroristic threats and two firearm-related charges, according to WSB-TV. A Coweta County judge accepted the verdict and imposed a 30-year prison sentence followed by 15 years of probation. Prosecutors said Causey’s three prior felony convictions mean he will not be eligible for parole.
Violent Assault Detailed At Trial
Prosecutors told jurors the case began with a terrifying scene at the victim’s home in September 2022, when Causey showed up armed with both a gun and a taser, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. He allegedly threatened to “taze [him] in the eye or shoot [him] in the kneecap,” then repeatedly tased the victim and hit him with a handgun. Evidence presented at trial indicated the gun went off and a round struck a couch cushion.
According to prosecutors, Causey forced the victim to shower, lie in the victim’s mother’s bed, and collect and bag evidence before the victim managed to escape, FOX 5 Atlanta reported. Those details, they argued, laid out a pattern of threats and control that supported the aggravated assault and firearm convictions.
Fled During Deliberations, Arrested Hours Later
When the case went to the jury, Causey was still in court. At some point before the verdict came back, prosecutors said, he slipped away from the courtroom and could not be found when jurors were ready to announce their decision, according to Atlanta News First. The judge proceeded without him, allowing the jury to return its guilty verdict in his absence and then imposing the 30-year sentence.
Hours after the sentencing, deputies with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office located Causey in Carroll County and arrested him, Atlanta News First reported. Authorities have not publicly detailed the timeline of his disappearance or how far he got before deputies closed in.
Sentence, Prosecution And Parole Note
The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Brett Adams, and the district attorney’s office later released a statement thanking investigators and deputies for their work, according to The Citizen. The office said, “Our community will be safer for the next 30 years with Causey in prison.”
Prosecutors also noted that the quick arrest meant Causey did not have the chance to approach the victim or anyone else while post-verdict paperwork and processing were underway, The Citizen reported. Because of his three prior felony convictions, the DA’s office and court records indicate he will serve the 30-year prison term without the possibility of parole.
Courthouse Questions
How exactly a convicted felon-in-waiting managed to walk away from a courthouse packed with law enforcement remains an open question. Officials have not released specifics on how Causey got out of the courtroom or whether he had any outside help, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
Deputies ultimately tracked Causey to Carroll County and arrested him hours after the sentencing, and prosecutors say that quick turnaround removed the immediate threat to the victim, according to Atlanta News First.
