Marietta man to serve 5-year sentence for punching cop

Because of his criminal past, a Marietta man will serve the maximum prison term for punching a police officer.

Gary Dewayne Mullis, 65, was sentenced Thursday to serve five years after being convicted earlier this month of punching a Marietta officer, according to a news release from the Cobb County district attorney’s office.

Five prior felony convictions factored into Mullis’s sentence, according to the release. Judge Marsha Lake, who was sitting as a Superior Court judge, sentenced Mullis as a recidivist.

“Cobb County is not going to tolerate your behavior,” Lake told Mullis, according to the release.

Mullis was arrested Oct. 1, 2012, after an altercation with police at a RaceTrac gas station on South Marietta Parkway. Police approached Mullis to speak with him about trespassing, but he began to disobey verbal commands. At some point Mullis began to fight with an officer and eventually punched the officer in the face.

Mullis, who also pulled off the officer’s radio and an ammunition magazine, was acquitted of attempting to remove the officer’s weapon, according to the release.

About the Author

Michelle E Shaw

‘Big Beautiful Bill’ strikes fear in Georgia’s clean energy, EV sectors

If the Senate's One Big Beautiful Bill Act passes, it would eliminate tax credits for EV purchases and installing solar panels and end subsidies for clean energy companies

1h ago

Sneaker Con draws masses to Atlanta for shoes and status

One Sneaker Con attendee Saturday in Atlanta said: 'Once you have that rush of buying, buying, buying, it’s like a drug. You can’t stop.'

Emory University custodian charged after woman found dead in Atlanta park

Police found an unresponsive woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and charged a 57-year-old man who had worked for Emory University until Wednesday.

The Latest

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

‘Big Beautiful Bill’ strikes fear in Georgia’s clean energy, EV sectors

1h ago

A.M. ATL: The land of cornbread

A.M. ATL: Came in like a wrecking ball

Featured

Credit: AP

Senate GOP passes budget bill Democrats describe as ‘a catastrophe’

Republicans in the U.S. Senate have passed the “big, beautiful bill” championed by President Donald Trump, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tiebreaking vote.

State Farm Arena top 5 globally in box office — behind only Sphere, MSG in U.S.

State Farm Arena brought in about $76.2 million across 60 events.

At a store that never closes, an armed comedian keeps the midnight watch

At JJ Food Mart on the west side of Atlanta, an armed comedian keeps the midnight watch. If you misbehave, Connell Daniels Jr. might put you on Instagram.