Release:

On April 16, 2020, at approximately 2:07 pm., a 31-year-old male, reported that he was sitting outside a residence in the 1800 block of Claudia Circle when unknown males approached him and physically assaulted him. The victim received a fractured nose, fractured eye socket, broken rib, and other injuries.

On Friday, April 17, 2020, a concerned citizen sent a video to the Valdosta Police Department Facebook page. The video, where the offenders recorded themselves taunting and physically assaulting the victim, had been published on a social media outlet. Detectives took the video and began identifying the subjects involved in the video. Through a thorough investigation, detectives identified four individuals involved in the assault, a 14-year-old juvenile, two 15-year-old juveniles, and Jenome Ponder. On Tuesday, detectives located and arrested the two 15-year-old juveniles, who were turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice. On Wednesday, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Ponder and he turned himself into Lowndes County Jail. Arrest warrants have been obtained for the 14-year-old juvenile, but detectives have been unable to locate him.

All four subjects are facing charges of aggravated battery-felony and aggravated assault-felony.

“We are thankful for the concerned citizen who sent the video to our department. The fact that these offenders videoed themselves taunting and assaulting this helpless victim is disgusting. I am so thankful for the work of our detectives who are ensuring that these callous and menacing offenders are being held accountable for their actions.” Chief Leslie Manahan.