21-YEAR-OLD GUILTY OF GIRLFRIEND'S MURDER ON HER 21ST BIRTHDAY

Jamon Jackson-Then Just 18-Gets Life Plus 10 Years in the Murder of Ashley Cierra White

Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces the conviction of 21-year-old Jamon Jackson of Atlanta in the August 10, 2005 murder of his girlfriend, 21-year-old Ashley Cierra White. It was her birthday. Today, a Superior Court jury found the defendant guilty of murder, felony murder, arson in the first degree, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, concealing the death of another and tampering with evidence. Judge Henry Newkirk sentenced Jackson to life in prison plus 10 years to serve consecutively. Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Esmond Adams had argued for the maximum sentence of life plus 45 years, "because of the heinous nature of these crimes and the extent to which this defendant went to conceal his crimes."

On the night of August 10th, 2005, the defendant was driving the victim's silver Honda Civic with her in the front passenger seat and one of his friends, Darnell Amaker, in the back seat when he and the victim began to argue. Amaker testified the victim turned off the ignition and the defendant pulled out a gun, put it away, then pulled it out a second time as the argument continued and shot Ashley in the face. The defendant drove the car-with White's dead body inside-to a remote location near Welcome All Park off Camp Creek Parkway in College Park, Georgia and abandoned it. He later returned to the car, drove it to Roosevelt Street in College Park and set it on fire. The victim's body was so badly burned, she could be identified only using DNA technology.

The victim's mother, Mrs. Pennye Argilan of Glen Burnie, Maryland and maternal grandmother, Mrs. Ellen White of Atlanta, directed their victim impact remarks to the defendant. "Even though you were found guilty there were no winners here today. I lost my child and your parents have lost theirs," said Mrs. Argilan. Mrs. White told the defendant, "You have visited a terrible, terrible pain upon my family and yours. You can never pay for what you've done because Ashley's life was not for sale!"

ADA Adams was assisted in the prosecution of the case by Assistant District Attorney Susannah Wright. Detective S. Dimasi of the College Park Police Department led the investigation along with David White and Fred Hall of the DA's Investigations Unit. Felecia Deas and Scott Long of the DA's Victim-Witness Assistance Program provided services to family members of the victim.

CONTACT: Lyn Vaughn, 404.730.6860 (office); 770.597.6963 (cell); lyn.vaughn@co.fulton.ga.us