Wilkinson Co. teacher accused of assaulting student with scissors

Published 9:57 pm Wednesday, May 14, 2025

IRWINTON, Ga. — A 46-year-old teacher at Wilkinson County Middle School has been arrested and accused of assaulting a student with a pair of scissors.

The incident reportedly happened at the school May 7, according to a law enforcement official who talked with The Union-Recorder.

The teacher was arrested by special agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Region 6 Office in Milledgeville.

The suspect was identified as Jamel Mikal Ashley of Danville, Georgia, according to a GBI press release.

Ashley was charged with one count of aggravated assault and one count of cruelty to children.

After his arrest, Ashley was taken to the Wilkinson County Law Enforcement Center in Irwinton and jailed.

GBI Special Agent Amanda Hammett became involved in the investigation after an official with GBI Office in Milledgeville received a request from the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office to assist with the ongoing investigation into allegations of aggravated assault and cruelty to children.

“The investigation confirmed that while in a classroom and employed at the Wilkinson County Middle School, Ashley approached a student and held a pair of scissors to the student’s throat,” according to the GBI press release.

The incident was reportedly captured by a classroom video camera.

The student was not physically injured.

Authorities have not revealed what might have led to the altercation between the teacher and student.

The case remains active and ongoing by the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office, along with the GBI Region 6 Office in Milledgeville.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office at 478-946-2411 or the GBI Region 6 Office in Milledgeville at 478-445-4173.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), or online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

After the investigation has been completed, the case file will be sent to the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for consideration for possibly moving the case to a prosecution level.