Georgia judge flubs verdict reading, tells defendant he is guilty
Share and Follow


A Fulton County judge misspoke while reading a defendant’s verdict in a Georgia courtroom Friday, telling him he was guilty when the jury deemed him not guilty.

Alton Oliver was on trial over the 2022 killing of a Fulton County deputy and faced six counts, including three of murder, NBC affiliate WXIA of Atlanta reported.

Video from inside the courtroom shows the moment the judge accidentally told Oliver he was guilty.

After confirming with the jury that the paperwork was correct, the judge read the verdict: “We the jury find the defendant guilty as to all six counts.”

Oliver and his legal team sat in silence but people in the courtroom started audibly questioning the judge’s reading, prompting him to double-check the paper.

“Didn’t I say ‘not’?” the judge asked the room, to which a number of people replied “no.”

He apologized, then re-read the statement, this time correctly. People in the courtroom laughed and applauded.

After learning he had been acquitted, Oliver hugged his defense team, the video shows.

Earlier in the week, Oliver testified that he acted in self-defense when he shot Deputy James Thomas after Thomas repeatedly drove by Oliver and made unwanted sexual advances, WXIA reported.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Democrat lawmaker secretly filmed two of her critics, prosecutors say

Prosecutors Allege Democrat Lawmaker Illegally Recorded Critics

Maryland State Senator Dalya Attar faces an indictment for reportedly recording two…
Hollywood producer sentenced in women's deaths also accused of rape by hero officer who died helping others

Hollywood Producer Faces New Rape Allegations from Late Hero Officer Amid Sentencing for Women’s Deaths

A Hollywood producer was sentenced on Wednesday for his involvement in the…
DuPage County food pantries, like Glen House, Northern Illinois Food Bank, worry they can't meet need after SNAP benefits end

DuPage County Food Pantries Struggle to Meet Demand as SNAP Benefits Conclude

In DuPage County, Illinois, local food pantries are bracing for an increase…
Navy Pier lawsuit: Kira Bond of New York seriously injured by s'mores fire sues Offshore Rooftop restaurant in Chicago

New York Woman Sues Chicago Rooftop Restaurant After S’mores Fire Incident at Navy Pier

A New York resident, who was injured in a fire at Chicago’s…
Hoffman Estates Timber Trails Elementary School teacher Katie Pappas gets 2nd life-saving kidney transplant organ donation

Miracle in the Classroom: Timber Trails Teacher Katie Pappas Receives Second Life-Saving Kidney Transplant

A heartwarming celebration unfolded in Hoffman Estates as a local educator and…
Luigi Mangione gains prominence at federal jail where guards like him and inmates dub him 'ambassador': report

Luigi Mangione: The Inmate ‘Ambassador’ Gaining Popularity Among Guards and Prisoners in Federal Jail

Luigi Mangione, the man accused of attempting to assassinate the CEO of…
Woman hospitalized, man killed in rollover crash on Monument Road: JSO

Rollover Crash on Monument Road Results in Fatality and Hospitalization: JSO Reports

A tragic accident in Jacksonville on Wednesday evening has left one man…
‘I was so startled’: Five Points worker recalls break-in as city moves to improve safety

Five Points Break-In Sparks Urgent Safety Overhaul: Employee Shares Shocking Experience

After a series of burglaries, business owners are expressing relief as a…