Jaynes Sentenced to 60 Years for Threatening Sheriff’s Deputies

A Martin man will spend 10 years of a 60-year sentence behind bars after being convicted of threatening to shoot and kill Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies.

Last month a jury found Donald Jaynes guilty on four of six counts of aggravated assault against a police officer and four counts of felony obstruction.

On June 11, 2013, Jaynes called Franklin County 911 complaining about four-wheelers driving down the road in front of his house.

During the 911 call, Jaynes threatened to shoot the deputies if they came on to his property or attempted to take away his guns.

When officers arrived at his Pleasant Hill Drive home, Jaynes pointed a rifle at them and threatened to kill all of them. Officers were eventually able to subdue Jaynes and arrest him.

At his sentencing hearing Thursday in Franklin County Superior Court in Carnesville, one of those officers, Chris Buffington, told the judge having his life threatened by Jaynes last year is still fresh in his mind.

Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Parks White said that incident was not the first time officers had been called to Jaynes’ home.  White said it was officers’ restraint that day that kept them from shooting and killing Jaynes.

At that point, Jaynes shouted out in the courtroom, “I want to die! Just kill me know! That’s what you want isn’t it?”

Jaynes’ attorney, Harvey Wasserman, cited his client’s low IQ and the fact that he had never before been in trouble with the law.  Wasserman then asked that Jaynes get the psychological help he needs and a sentence of two – three years.

“This is one of the saddest and scariest cases I’ve seen,” said Superior Court Judge John Bailey in delivering  his sentence.  I believe the officers showed great restraint and not using their weapons.”

Again, Jaynes shouted out, “I wanted them to kill me, I want to die!”

Bailey said because it is clear Jaynes needs help, he recommended Jaynes be transferred to the Georgia Diagnostic Class Prison in Jackson, GA for an initial mental evaluation and if needed, be hospitalized.

Judge Bailey then sentenced Jaynes to the following

Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer:

Count 1 – 20 years/10 to serve

Count2 – 20 years concurrent

Count3 – 20 years consecutive to count 1

Count 4 – Not guilty

Count 5 – 20 years consecutive to count 3

Count 6 – Not guilty

Obstruction of a police officer, five years concurrent to count 1

That means Jaynes will serve a total of ten years in confinement and 50 years on probation.

Afterwards, Wasserman said he felt the sentence was fair.

“I think it was reasonable. I understand it,” he said. “I think Mr. Jaynes has some serious psychological problems that explains a lot of what he did, but in the court’s eyes he still has some danger to the community. The judge recommended that his incarceration be in a hospital or medical setting and we all hope that is what’s going to happen.”