Home Invasion Armed Robbery Defendants Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Sentences

District Attorney Joe Hendricks announced that Jael Aareon Gates, age 20 of Hollis Queens, New York, was found guilty by a Pickens County jury on Thursday, February 9, 2012 of Armed Robbery, three counts of Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.  Senior Superior Court Judge Fred Bishop sentenced Gates to 25 years with the first 13 to be served in prison and the balance of his sentence to be probated.  

Gates and his co-defendant Ira Joseph Hanna were indicted by the Pickens County Grand Jury in March 2011 for the home invasion/armed robbery.  Gates co-defendant  Ira Joseph Hanna, a/k/a “Fly”, age 21 of Douglasville, GA pleaded guilty just prior to trial and was sentenced by Judge Bishop to 20 years, the first 12 to be served in prison with the balance probated.  Neither Defendant is eligible for parole for the prison portion of their sentence.  Two juvenile females were charged but their cases were handled in the Juvenile Court.

The case was investigated by Jasper Police Detective Matt Dawkins and Chris Knight.  The lead prosecutor assigned to the case was Sr. Asst. District Attorney Scott Poole.

District Attorney Joe Hendricks praised the work of the Jasper Police Department and the prosecutors in his office saying “Detectives Dawkins and Knight and Assistant DA Poole  worked very hard to bring these violent criminals to justice.”  Hendricks further stated that he was pleased with the lengthy sentences saying, “violent criminals who come into our community and commit violent gun crimes should know they will be dealt with severely.”