A former Fulton County jailer has avoided prison time in the 2018 in-custody death of Antonio May, walking out of Fulton County Superior Court on Monday with five years of probation under Georgia's First Offender Act.
The former officer, identified in court records as Cook, pleaded guilty and received a sentence that bars him from ever working in law enforcement, detention or private security. The deal also requires community service and allows for the possibility that his probation could be cut short if he satisfies all of the court's conditions, according to WSB‑TV.
What Happened Inside Fulton Jail in 2018
May was booked into the Fulton County Jail on September 11, 2018, after a misdemeanor trespass arrest. During a use-of-force incident, deputies used a Taser and pepper spray, and May later became unresponsive, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Family attorneys have alleged that deputies tased, beat and restrained May, then put a spit mask over his head before he was decontaminated and ultimately pronounced dead, as detailed by The Washington Post.
From Jailhouse Death to Plea Deal
Three years after May's death, a Fulton County grand jury indicted six jailers in late 2021 on charges that included felony murder, aggravated assault and violation of oath, following a lengthy investigation by the district attorney's office, according to The Atlanta Journal‑Constitution.
A Fulton judge later quashed those indictments in 2022 over issues with pre-indictment notice. That decision did not stand for long. In October 2023, the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously reversed the ruling, clearing the way for prosecutions to move forward, according to the court's opinion on Justia.
May's legal team has framed Cook's plea as progress, but not closure. "No one should have to lose their life the way that Mr. May lost his," attorney Teddy Reese said, as reported by The Atlanta Journal‑Constitution.
Why the Case Still Haunts Fulton County Jails
While the criminal case unfolds, Fulton County's jails remain under intense scrutiny. A 2024 review by the U.S. Department of Justice found unconstitutional and dangerous conditions, concluding that officials failed to protect detainees from violence and used excessive force. Federal authorities said the findings have sparked discussions about reforms and outside monitoring, according to AP News.
What the First Offender Deal Really Means
Because Cook's plea was entered under Georgia's First Offender Act, the court has deferred formally finding him guilty. If he completes probation and all conditions of his sentence, he can be exonerated and discharged without a conviction under state law, according to the statute on Justia.
Prosecutors still must decide how aggressively to pursue the remaining former jail employees who were indicted alongside Cook. He is one of six former Fulton County jail workers charged in connection with May's death, and his plea resolves only his own criminal exposure while the broader litigation and any remaining prosecutions continue. WSB‑TV reported that his probation could be suspended early if he complies fully with the court's terms.
