CARNESVILLE-In what may be the state's first prosecution of its kind, a Franklin County woman is charged with murder for allegedly causing her baby's death by taking drugs while pregnant. Shannon Moss, 21, gave birth to twins April 21, but one child, Angel Hope Schneider, died shortly afterward. Prosecutors allege the child's death was directly attributable to Moss' use of drugs, specifically cocaine and amphetamines, while carrying the twins. It's apparently the first such prosecution in Georgia, and one that will undoubtedly be difficult. [continues 1193 words]
MACON - The part of I-75 that snakes through Lamar County is short-just about three miles of interstate-and easy to miss if a motorist isn't checking signs. Minority motorists, however, claim the Lamar County Sheriff's Department pays far too much attention to them as they pass through that Middle Georgia county. Those motorists accuse the sheriff's department of profiling, a practice used to spot suspected drug couriers, they say targets blacks and other minorities for unwarranted stops and searches along the interstate. Their claims now have drawn the attention of a federal judge and lately, the U.S. Justice Department, according to court documents in Macon. [continues 1287 words]
