Baldwin Co. grand jury indicts 2 defendants on exploitation of disabled adults

Published 11:45 am Tuesday, June 17, 2025

EDITOR’S NOTE: An indictment is an allegation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.

A Baldwin County grand jury indicted two men in unrelated cases on exploitation of disabled adult charges when they convened last month at the county courthouse in Milledgeville.

One of the defendants was identified as Dezmen Deonta Lewis, according to records filed in the Baldwin County Superior Court Clerk’s Office.

Grand jurors levied two charges against Lewis. One charge involved exploitation of and intimidation of a disabled adult, elder person or resident, and one count of battery.

The crimes reportedly happened Feb. 13.

Members of the grand jury contend Lewis willfully inflicted physical pain and injury on the victim in the case by slamming one of his hands in a door.

The victim in this case was said to be at least 65.

Grand jurors filed the battery charge against Lewis stemming from him reportedly “unlawfully and intentionally” causing visible bodily harm to the victim, who suffered a swollen hand from the injury he sustained.

The case was initially investigated by Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dawson Smith.

In an unrelated case, grand jurors also indicted a man on two charges.

The defendant was identified as James McKinley Hill, court records show.

Hill was indicted on charges of exploitation and intimidation of a disabled adult, elder person or resident and for theft by taking.

The crimes reportedly happened Oct. 25, 2023.

Hill is accused of knowingly and willfully exploiting the resources of the victim in the case, who was said to be a person at least 65 or older.

Grand jurors said Hill exploited the victim by means of deception and for the profit of said accused.

Hill also is accused of taking U.S. currency of more than $5,000 but less than $25,000, according to the two-count indictment.

The case was investigated by Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kelli Goss.