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In Chatham County, Georgia, the district attorney recently addressed concerns raised by residents regarding the presence of a business owner facing serious privacy invasion allegations. These worries stem from the fact that the individual remains in their community.
The individual in question is Thomas Hinley, proprietor of the Capital Bee Company, a well-known gift shop located on Broughton Street in Savannah. Hinley faces accusations of using spy cameras to secretly observe a woman in her home during the spring of 2024.
According to investigators, explicit photographs of the woman were discovered on Hinley’s cellphone. This news outlet was the first to bring these allegations to public attention.
Residents of Wilmington Island, where Hinley currently resides under house arrest, have expressed significant unease. The neighborhood, populated with numerous women and children, is apprehensive about Hinley’s continued presence while he is out on bond.
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, voiced the community’s sentiments, stating, “We don’t feel protected. We feel dismissed.”
Several people claim to have tried to get the attention of the district attorney and local police to try and get Hinley behind bars.
“Our community has been living with fear and uncertainty for over two years,” the anonymous resident said. “We are deeply disappointed in a system that has allowed someone accused of serious crimes involving surveillance, stalking and violations of personal privacy to remain in a family centered area surrounded by children.”
While bond is set by a judge, not the district attorney, took these residents’ concerns to Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Jones. She detailed why some cases take longer than others.
“Unfortunately, I think we live in the day and time of Law and Order where a crime happens, someone is arrested and detained and then tried to a jury within an hour,” Jones said. “But the criminal justice process often takes a much longer time than that.”
In this specific case, Hinely was arrested in April 2024, but the district attorney’s office didn’t receive the file until late June 2025. Hinely was then indicted two months later.
“I know [residents] don’t feel this way, but that’s as efficient a process as we can once it gets into the court system,” Jones said. “Some people don’t really realize that sometimes it takes that long to do a complete investigation, especially when there’s a lot of data, computer data, evidence, internet evidence and ISP numbers for computers that take a long while.”
This is the case with the investigation into Hinely. Police found several laptops, cameras, SD cards, hard drives, and cell phones in his home and office.
“We want to make sure that justice is served, but also that it’s done in a thorough and effective way to get to the right outcome,” Jones said. “I trust law enforcement. I think in this case, as they often do, they did a good and thorough job. That’s what I need as the district attorney, because if I know that the case is thoroughly investigated, I know that we get closer to justice than if it’s half investigated and no one is happy.”
District Attorney Jones told News 3 she could not speak further about the specifics of this case. Hinely is expected back in court in March.
See the full statement from the anonymous resident below:
“Our community has been living with fear and uncertainty for over two years. We are deeply disappointed in a system that has allowed someone accused of serious crimes involving surveillance, stalking, and violations of personal privacy to remain in a family-centered area surrounded by children.
“This is a community where kids ride bikes, walk to friends’ houses, play outside, and use shared neighborhood amenities. Parents should not have to stay on constant high alert just to let their children be kids.
“What’s especially disturbing is that even after his arrest, he was still allowed to host gatherings at his home, including a post-prom party attended by teenagers. That should never have been permitted.
“At the time of his arrest, community members reached out to the District Attorney’s office, detectives, and local news stations asking for help, visibility, and basic communication. No one responded.
“Families did everything they were supposed to do. Concerns were reported. Questions were asked. Warnings were shared. And we were ignored.
“This is not just about one victim or one street. It reflects a system that failed to act when people spoke up.
“We are asking the District Attorney to take meaningful action and prioritize public safety. Allowing someone facing these allegations to remain embedded in a family community sends a dangerous message that residents’ concerns don’t matter. We don’t feel protected. We feel dismissed.”