Warner Robins man sentenced to 10 years for aggravated stalking

55-year-old Willie Maurice Godwin entered a guilty plea July 15.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A Warner Robins man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated stalking involving a former romantic partner, according to the Houston County District Attorney’s Office.

55-year-old Willie Maurice Godwin entered a guilty plea July 15 in Houston County Superior Court. Godwin was sentenced to 10 years in prison, the maximum sentence allowed by law for an aggravated stalking conviction.

The sentence also includes a permanent restraining order prohibiting Godwin from contacting the victim.

According to the district attorney’s office, the case involved multiple incidents of aggravated stalking over about a one-month period in early 2026.

Prosecutors said Godwin and the victim had previously been in a romantic relationship. During the relationship, law enforcement intervened after incidents of violence.

The district attorney’s office said Godwin was previously convicted of aggravated stalking involving the same victim on Jan. 7, 2026, and was sentenced to serve time at the Emanuel Probation Detention Center.

According to prosecutors, Godwin began violating the terms of that sentence shortly after arriving at the facility by contacting the victim despite a court order prohibiting contact.

The victim reported the communications to Godwin’s probation officer and victim advocates with the Houston Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. Officials at the probation detention center also documented the violations, according to the district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors said Godwin was removed from the Emanuel Probation Detention Center and returned to the Houston County Detention Center, where he was served with aggravated stalking warrants that led to this week’s guilty plea and sentence.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Mike Smith released the following statement:

“The Houston County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the numerous officers with both the Department of Community Supervision and the Department of Corrections, for their outstanding efforts in bringing this domestic abuser to justice. The Office would especially like to highlight the efforts of Officer Brad Kimball with the Department of Community Supervision for his efforts in investigating and reporting this case. All members of our community should be safe from domestic abuse. While these narcissistic abusers think they are above the law and will avoid facing the consequences of their cycles of violence, the District Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to standing up for the most vulnerable in our community, even in instances where those individuals may not be comfortable standing up for themselves. Everybody counts, or nobody counts. The District Attorney’s Office will always seek to eradicate domestic violence in our community.”

District Attorney Eric Z. Ewards released the following statement:

“One of the most dangerous times for a victim of domestic violence is after the relationship has ended. Too many abusers refuse to accept that they no longer control the victim, and they continue their campaign of intimidation through repeated contact, threats, and violations of court orders. That is exactly what occurred in this case. What makes this defendant’s conduct particularly troubling is that he began violating the Court’s no-contact order almost immediately after being transferred to a probation detention center to serve his sentence for stalking this very same victim. Rather than using that opportunity to change his behavior, he demonstrated complete disregard for the law, the Court’s authority, and the safety and peace of mind of the victim. I am grateful for the diligence of the Department of Community Supervision, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and our own Victim Advocates, who worked together to ensure these
violations were documented and brought before the Court. I also commend Senior Assistant District Attorney Mike Smith for his prosecution of this case. A protective order is not a suggestion—it is a court order. When an offender repeatedly ignores those orders and continues to terrorize a victim, our office will seek the strongest punishment the law allows. In this case, that meant the maximum sentence for aggravated stalking, along with a permanent restraining order to provide the victim the protection she deserves.”