Macon man resentenced to 40 years after First Offender probation violations

District attorney says the defendant admitted to multiple violations, leading to revocation and resentencing

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A Macon man who was granted a second chance under Georgia’s First Offender Act has been sentenced to 40 years in prison, with the first 20 years to serve, after violating his probation, according to a news release from the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

District Attorney Anita Howard said Qadarrius Redding’s first offender status was revoked and his original felony convictions were adjudicated after he admitted to multiple probation violations.

“The First Offender Act gives people a genuine second chance, and we support that opportunity,” Howard said in the release. “When offenders squander that second chance by violating their probation, we don’t play games.”

According to the district attorney’s office, Redding was originally sentenced in 2017 under the First Offender Act to 15 years, with eight years to serve, for aggravated assault and violating Georgia’s Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. The law allows eligible defendants to avoid a felony conviction if they successfully complete their sentence without violations.

The release says Redding later faced allegations of conspiring to bring K-2 into the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center, unlawfully entering and attacking his ex-girlfriend on multiple occasions and assaulting another inmate while incarcerated.

Following a probation revocation hearing, the district attorney’s office said Redding entered a guilty plea to the violations. Prosecutors requested that his first offender treatment be revoked and that he be resentenced to the maximum allowed penalty.

The court agreed, sentencing Redding to 40 years, with the first 20 years to be served in prison, according to the release. The district attorney’s office said Redding will face his remaining charges in Bibb Superior Court at a later date.