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A Newnan man who terrorized his family for more than two decades was sentenced this week to 25 years in prison, after his own children described to a Coweta County judge the fear that shaped their daily lives.
Jason Tyrone Bryant, 49, pleaded guilty on December 8 to a series of domestic violence charges spanning two Superior Court cases, including aggravated assault–family violence, aggravated battery–family violence, terroristic threats, aggravated stalking, and cruelty to children in the third degree. The plea was non-negotiated, leaving the sentence entirely to Superior Court Judge Emory Palmer, who also ordered an additional five years of probation.
“Fear and misery throughout their daily lives”
During the hearing, prosecutors outlined the extent of the abuse. According to the District Attorney’s Office, Bryant physically, emotionally, and mentally abused his wife for the entirety of their 24-year marriage. When one of their four children broke a rule, he “would beat their mother to punish them.” If he lost a job, he beat her again. On one occasion, he struck her in the face with a bottle, leaving a scar “which can be seen today.”
Prosecutors said Bryant regulated nearly every aspect of his wife’s life — her movements, her communication, even her finances. At the time of his arrest, she had been hiding 10% of her paycheck in a separate account, hoping to “one day afford to escape without Bryant noticing a reduction in her paychecks.”
His children addressed the court, describing “the fear and misery the entire family experienced throughout their daily lives,” and pleaded for a lengthy sentence.
The 911 call that brought the violence to light
Relief finally came on September 7, 2024, when one daughter, not at the home at the time, called 911 after her sister told her that Bryant was “punching their mother and dragging her around the house.” The dispatcher’s notes record that the caller “does not want her parents advised that she called us,” a reflection of the danger the children believed they faced.
By the time deputies arrived, Bryant had fled. He was arrested later that night with an open container of alcohol and a .380 handgun. At the house, deputies found bruising to the victim’s legs, arms, body, and face. A medical evaluation later confirmed a fractured nose and a ruptured eardrum.
One daughter had recorded part of the attack, and reported hearing Bryant threaten to kill their mother.
Continued contact despite protective orders
Bryant was released on bond on September 12 under an order to “stay away, absolutely, directly and indirectly” from his wife and children. A Superior Court judge issued a family violence protective order on October 8 reinforcing the no-contact requirement. Yet prosecutors said he continued trying to reach the family — messaging his wife’s mother, following his wife on social media, and contacting one of his daughters — all of which formed the basis for the aggravated stalking charge.
Prosecutors: Family can finally live in safety
Assistant District Attorney Lara Todd prosecuted the case, which the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office investigated. In announcing the plea, the District Attorney’s Office said it is relieved that this “resilient family can finally live in peace and safety.”
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