Warner Robins man sentenced to 12 years for heroin trafficking

The charges stem from a September 7, 2024, incident when Perry police responded to a 911 call about a possible overdose at the Best Western hotel in Perry.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A Warner Robins man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to heroin trafficking, according to the Houston County District Attorney’s Office.

57-year-old James Edward Kelly Jr. entered a guilty plea on July 3 to trafficking heroin. He was sentenced to 25 years, with the first 12 to be served in prison, and was fined $50,000.

The charges stem from a September 7, 2024, incident when Perry police responded to a 911 call about a possible overdose at the Best Western hotel in Perry. Emergency personnel found Kelly unresponsive. First responders rendered lifesaving aid after he reportedly lost consciousness from smoking marijuana and methamphetamine.

During the response, Perry police officers interviewed other occupants of the hotel room. Detective Kim Morton later obtained a search warrant, which led to the discovery of 14 grams of heroin and other controlled substances including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy. Officers also recovered digital scales, smoking pipes and syringes.

Detective Aaron Conner, who was familiar with Kelly as a known narcotics distributor in Houston County, led the investigation that confirmed those suspicions.

Before trial, Kelly attempted to avoid prosecution by citing Georgia’s Medical Amnesty statute, O.C.G.A. § 16-13-5. Senior Assistant District Attorney Lauren W. Fletcher argued the statute did not apply in Kelly’s case, as it only provides limited protections for individuals who, in good faith, seek emergency assistance during an overdose. The court agreed, allowing the case to proceed to sentencing.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Lauren W. Fletcher released the following statement:

“The Medical Amnesty statute is intended to shield users from small quantity drug-related criminal charges associated with accidental overdoses, not to shield drug traffickers from facing the consequences of their choices to peddle poison in our community. Kelly’s conviction, despite his accidental overdose, sends a clear message to Houston County drug dealers that the reward for distributing controlled substances in this community is a lengthy term of imprisonment in the Georgia Department of Corrections.”

District Attorney Eric Edwards  released the following statement:

“Georgia’s Medical Amnesty law was written to save lives—not to serve as a get-out-of-jail-free card for drug traffickers. This defendant tried to hide behind a law meant for users in crisis, not dealers caught red-handed with heroin, fentanyl, and meth. We don’t put up with that kind of nonsense in Houston County. If you bring poison into this community, expect to be held fully accountable— no loopholes, no excuses.”