The Augusta-Richmond County district attorney said Friday she is seeking the death penalty against the man accused of shooting and killing a sheriff’s investigator in November.
District Attorney Natalie Paine filed notice that she will seek a death sentence if Alvin Theodore Hester Jr., 24, is convicted of murder in the death of Cecil Ridley, court records show. Hester was indicted last week on 16 charges, including malice murder, AJC.com previously reported.
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On Nov. 19, Ridley was conducting a patrol with a narcotics unit in Augusta in an effort to curb gun violence. However, he became the victim of gun violence after he and another officer tried to confront Hester inside an Augusta Mart at the corner of 12th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the GBI previously said.
About 8:30 p.m., Hester tried to leave the gas station before shooting and mortally wounding Ridley, with the investigator’s colleague and a third officer returning fire, the GBI said. Hester was shot in the parking lot but survived his injuries.
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Ridley later died of his injuries.
Hester was taken to Augusta University Medical Center until three days later, when he was released and booked into the county’s jail.
Credit: Richmond County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Richmond County Sheriff's Office
Deonquez Reid, 18, was later arrested by the GBI on a count of felony tampering with evidence in connection with Ridley’s death. He was granted an $11,200 bond, according to county jail records.
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Hester faces a count of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, three counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and five firearm-related charges, according to his indictment. He was also indicted on counts of theft by receiving, obstruction, criminal use of an article with an altered identification mark, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
Because prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, his jury will have three sentencing options if they choose to convict: death, life in prison without parole and life in prison with the possibility of parole.
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Paine told AJC.com that her office can not comment further on a pending case.
Hester, who spent about seven months in a Georgia prison for prior obstruction and drug-related convictions in Richmond County, remains in jail without bond.
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