Robbie Javon Register

VALDOSTA — After two days of trial, a jury found Robbie Javon Register guilty on five charges related to the 2017 death of Lowndes County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Butler.

Register was found guilty of one count of vehicular homicide due to DUI, one count of vehicular homicide due to driving in a reckless manner, DUI, improper turn at an intersection, failing to yield to emergency vehicle.

Lowndes County jurors returned not guilty verdicts for two drug possession charges.

Butler had been responding to a domestic violence call on Cat Creek Road. Register was driving a semi-truck and made a right turn into the lane of Butler’s oncoming patrol car, according to reports.

Register contended on the witness stand he could not see the deputy coming due to trees blocking his line of sight and also the deputy did not have his flashing lights on or his siren.

Southern District Attorney Brad Shealy called a witness who said she saw the deputy’s lights from her house and heard the siren just before the crash.

An expert who tested blood taken from Register the night of the wreck testified to the presence of cocaine and marijuana in his system and the truck driver would have still been feeling the effects of those drugs.

Register testified he had not had cocaine for two years prior to the wreck and he had not had marijuana for a couple of months. He said the expert must be lying.

During testimony, jurors were also shown footage from a camera mounted in Register’s semi-truck. The video showed a view of Register in the cabin and the view the driver would have seen at the front of the vehicle.

The video shows Register making the right-hand turn onto Cat Creek Road directly into the oncoming deputy’s vehicle. The video also shows the flashing blue lights of the deputy’s car.

During cross examination of Register, Shealy played a recording of Register’s initial interview where he told officers, “I saw him but I knew I could beat him.” The defendant said he should have been more patient.

In closing statements, Defense Attorney Bill Folsom said there were two mistakes made. Register had misjudged and Butler was going too fast at 63 miles per hour.

Shealy showed the video to the jury again during his closing saying to them, “the video shows you everything you need to know.”

After deliberating for almost two hours Tuesday afternoon, the jury foreman said jurors agreed on some counts but not on others and requested more time. Deliberations continued Wednesday morning and the verdict was reached within a few hours.

“I am very happy with the verdict,” Shealy said. “This deputy was following the law, he was responding in service to others and I certainly think there should be jail time in my opinion; at least 10 years to serve.”

Register, who had been out on bond pending trial, had his bond revoked and will remain in jail until sentencing which is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., May 8.