spalding county jury convicts man of aggravated assault and Murderers enter guilty pleas

​          The Spalding County District Attorney’s Office had a trial calendar in front of the Honorable John C. Carbo, a Senior Judge. The State presented the case of the State of Georgia vs. Aaron Szalanski to a Spalding County jury. Szalanski was charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault, Criminal Attempt to Commit Rape, and Battery. The jury convicted Szalanski of Aggravated Assault and Battery. He was sentenced to 15 years in a State penitentiary. Assistant District Attorneys Ashton Fallin and Kate Lenhard tried the case for the State.
            Szalanski was convicted of beating the victim about her head, neck, and body with his fists causing lacerations and extensive bruising on August 18, 2018. Szalanski was previously convicted of Aggravated Assault against his mother in Gwinnett County.
 
            Earl Cherry entered a guilty plea to Malice Murder and was sentenced to Life in Prison. Cherry, a 51-year-old man, pled guilty to brutally beating his wife, Sandra Cherry, with his fists and a frying pan, causing 58 injuries to her body and breaking her neck on February 22, 2018.
 
            Beatrice Lyons entered a guilty plea to Voluntary Manslaughter for the death of Mechele Underwood on December 10, 2016. She was sentenced to 20 years with the first 15 years to be spent in prison. She pled guilty to stabbing the victim one time in the neck, killing her.  
 
            Ben Coker, District Attorney said of the week, “I am proud of the Spalding County office and how hard they worked on this trial calendar. These convictions stand as proof of their dedication to keeping Spalding County safe. Thanks to those law enforcement officers who worked with us to bring about these results.”