Repeat Cascade Heights Burglar

WHAT:

State v. Donald Shorty

WHEN:

Tuesday April 8, 2010 @ 9:00 AM

WHERE:

Fulton County Jail
901 Rice Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
Judge Walter Lovett

FACTS:

On March 10, 2010, Big Daddy's Restaurant in Cascade Heights was broken into for the fifth time in two years.  Like each of the burglaries before, the front glass was broken and someone attempted to get cash from the empty register.  This time however, there was a surveillance video. The video showed a male matching the description of Donald Shorty.  Shorty was found in the area immediately after the burglary.  Shorty was arrested and charged.  Donald Shorty has an open burglary case from December 2008 from Family Dollar also on Cascade Road in the Cascade Heights area.  The Defendant has seven previous felony convictions including a plea taken in February 2008 for a burglary at Beecher Elementary School and another burglary plea in May 2007 for breaking into a home on Fontaine Ave. (just behind the Beautiful Restaurant)

HEARING:

During this hearing, the defendant can enter a guilty or not guilty plea.  If the defendant enters a not guilty plea a trial date will be selected and CourtWatchers will be notified of the date.  If the Defendant elects to plea guilty, he will have the option of accepting the sentence suggested by the State or he can elect to take a non-negotiated plea to a sentence determined by the Judge.  CourtWatchers, concerned community members and Zone 4 business owners are encouraged to attend this very important court date.  

State v. Donald Shorty- Donald "D Boy" Shorty was charged with a burglary of Big Daddy's Restaurant on Cascade Rd.  He was identified via the surveillance video.  Shorty has more than 26 arrests and approximately 8 convictions including burglaries at a home on Fontainebleau and another at Beecher Elementary School.  The State requested that the defendant be sentenced to 20 years to serve 15 years with the balance on probation in which the defendant would be banished from Zone 4.  Community members addressed the court and explained that they had attempted to assist Shorty by providing drug treatment, a job and GED courses.  The court sentenced the defendant to 20 years to serve 8 years of which none is parolable.  The defendant is banished from Zone 4 for the remaining 12 years.