Georgia couple temporarily lose custody of five children after misdemeanor arrest – WSB-TV Channel 2

COFFEE COUNTY, Tennessee – The five children of a Georgia couple have been placed in state custody after the parents were charged with a misdemeanor in Tennessee.

According to an affidavit obtained by WKRN-TV, Bianca Clayborne and Deonte Williams were en route from Georgia to a funeral in Chicago on Feb. 17 when they were pulled over by the Tennessee Highway Patrol on Interstate 24, allegedly because they had tinted windows left and used the left lane without actively overtaking.

After being pulled over, the officer said he smelled marijuana and a search of her Dodge Durango found about five grams of marijuana.

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Both parents were charged with simple possession, a Class A misdemeanor.

Williams was arrested and Clayborne was brought in but not arrested and told she was free to go with her children.

According to the Tennessee Lookout, six hours after the traffic stop, while Clayborne was sitting in the punishment center awaiting Williams’ release, the five children — a nursing 4-month-old and children 2, 3, 5 — were killed and seven were being prosecuted by the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) forcibly removed from their site.

Clayborne said an officer stopped her from reaching for her crying baby.

The Tennessee Lookout reports that days later, when the parents appeared for their first hearing before a Coffee County juvenile court judge, they were asked to undergo a urine drug test.

Williams tested positive for THC and Clayborne tested negative for illegal substances.

Williams and Clayborne then underwent hair follicle tests, which came up positive for methamphetamine, fentanyl, and oxycodone in both parents.

Both deny the use of the substances.

“Certainly there are other facts and circumstances which the defendants chose not to disclose in their efforts to bring this matter before the court of public opinion and politics. “My office will only hear this matter in criminal court,” District Attorney Craig Northcott said.

Both Williams and Clayborne appeared in juvenile court Monday for a hearing over the children’s safety and welfare.

According to DCS, the five children are currently staying with a family member.

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Northcott made the following statement:

“Deonte Rashaud Williams of Snellville, Georgia, is charged with simple possession, a Class A misdemeanor, in Case No. 2023-CR-516. This stems from a traffic stop on I-24 by the Tennessee Highway Patrol on February 17, 2023. His first court date was on February 21, 2023 in Coffee County General Sessions Court. His next court date is scheduled for March 20, 2023 at 9 a.m. He was released on $2,500 bail.

Bianca Paige Clayborne of Lawrenceville, Georgia, is charged with simple possession, a Class A misdemeanor, in Case No. 2023-CR-517. This is due to the same incident described above. Her court appearances coincided with Williams’s, and her next appearance in the Coffee County General Sessions Court is scheduled for March 20, 2023 at 9 a.m. She was issued a subpoena in lieu of arrest.

As to any concerns regarding the care, custody and control of the minor children who were with the defendants at the time of this indictment, the prosecution has no role in those acts or decisions. However, the officers involved complied with their duty under TCA §38-3-116 and other applicable statutes, which require law enforcement agencies to ensure that minors are adequately protected at all times when a parent or child is taken into custody by committing themselves services contacted the Department of Children to make them aware of the situation. The Department of Children Services then appears to have taken action in relation to the defendants’ minor children.

For legal and ethical reasons, I will not be releasing any further information on these cases at this time. Certainly there are other facts and circumstances which the defendants chose not to reveal in their efforts to bring this matter before the court of public opinion and politics. My law firm will hear this matter exclusively in the criminal court.

My office will continue to pursue pending charges against the defendants in order to achieve a fair and equitable outcome. I trust that the juvenile justice system will act in a similar manner to achieve a fair and efficient outcome that is in the best interests of the children. I have every confidence that Juvenile Court Judge Greg Perry has made, and will continue to make, all decisions consistent with the law that he feels are necessary to protect children.”

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