Judge Weaver released on $10K bail

ALBANY, Ga. — Following an arrest Friday for a felony aggravated assault domestic violence charge, Municipal Court Judge Willie Weaver posted $10,000 bond after 2 p.m. at the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office downtown.

Weaver left the office following his attorney, Johnnie Graham.

Graham fended off questions addressed to Weaver as he moved past reporters to a waiting SUV.

“He does not have any comment,” Graham said. Those will be made by me at the appropriate time. “This case will be tried in the court, as it should be.”

Graham also said that the aggravated assault, domestic violence charge against Weaver was brought by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, not Weaver’s wife, Vester.

The GBI swore out a warrant for Weaver, 53, after agents investigated a report on a May 22 assault taken by the Albany Police Department.

According to the report, the attack did not take place at the Weavers’ home. Weaver was listed as the “primary aggressor.” Vester Weaver received “superficial injuries” as a result of the attack, the report added.

The report indicated that the violence took place in front of children, there was alcohol involved and there had been between one and five previous incidents.

The original report lists the charge as battery, but after the investigation GBI agents raised the level to aggravated assault, a felony. Typically this is because a weapon or object was used to hit the victim.

District Attorney Greg Edwards initiated the GBI investigation. It is expected that his office will not assume prosecution and that an outside judge will be appointed to hear the case. Edwards did not immediately return a 6 p.m. Friday phone call. Previously Edwards said, “We don’t want to have a potential conflict of interest. We wanted to be clear that we’ll be dealing with this in an appropriate manner.”

Weaver was appointed to his position by the Albany City Commission. Mayor Willie Adams said that no action on Weaver’s employment will be taken until a verdict of innocent or guilty is handed down.

“That’s the American way,” Adams said. “We’ll wait and then we’ll see.”