Jury convicts felon for possessing firearm, providing false information to deputies

The incident began when Bibb County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with an expired drive-out tag, officially known as a Temporary Operating Permit.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A man has been convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and giving false information to a law enforcement officer following a September 2021 traffic stop, according to a news release from the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

The incident began when Bibb County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with an expired drive-out tag, officially known as a Temporary Operating Permit. During the stop, deputies discovered that the occupant, Khayri Wilder Sr., was smoking marijuana.

When deputies identified the passengers, Wilder provided the false name “Jonathan Wilder.” After the name returned no results, deputies used a fingerprint scanner to confirm his true identity and discovered he had active warrants. During a search incident to arrest, deputies found a firearm in Wilder’s back pocket.

At trial, Wilder testified that the firearm had been left in the vehicle by a friend and that he entered the car knowing the weapon was present but intending only to return it. He acknowledged he was prohibited from possessing or being around firearms due to a prior felony conviction. Wilder also admitted to providing a false name to deputies because of his outstanding warrants.

The case presented challenges for the prosecution, as the deputies involved were assigned to a specialized unit and were not equipped with body cameras or dash cameras. Despite this, prosecutors proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The state requested a sentence of 10 years in prison. Wilder was sentenced to 10 years, with the first four years to be served in prison.

District Attorney Anita Howard released the following statement:

“This conviction demonstrates that our community will not tolerate individuals who knowingly violate the law and then compound their crimes by lying to law enforcement. Mr. Wilder made a series of conscious choices that led to this outcome. The jury saw through these deceptions and held him accountable. We are grateful for their service and for the diligent work of the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office in bringing this case to justice.”