Topline: A former Fulton County jailer pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in Antonio May’s death, and prosecutors then dropped the remaining murder charges against five other ex-jailers.
Published: May 6, 2026 3:00 pm ET
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ATLANTA, GA — The murder case against six former Fulton County jailers accused in the 2018 death of inmate Antonio May came to a close Monday when prosecutors agreed to dismiss the charges after one defendant entered a guilty plea.
Arron Cook pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and violation of oath of office of a public officer, according to court proceedings in Fulton County. The deal ended the long-running criminal case tied to May’s death after less than 10 hours in the Fulton County Jail.
According to WSB-TV, May was 32 when he died in 2018 after being arrested on accusations of trespassing and damaging property. Michael Harper, an attorney representing May’s mother and children, said May told officers in a holding cell that he was dealing with mental illness and drug addiction.
Harper said the confrontation escalated when May refused orders to put some of his clothing back on. He said six jailers entered the cell, beat May, used a Taser on him, restrained him, pepper-sprayed him, and took him to a shower for decontamination while he remained restrained. Harper said May then suffered cardiac arrest.
The criminal case did not move forward until 2021, when a grand jury formally charged the six former jailers with murder. Harper said the matter had languished in the district attorney’s office for years before then-District Attorney Fani Willis pursued the indictment.
Fulton County Judge Robert McBurney threw out the indictment in 2022, ruling the defendants should have been given notice and an opportunity to appear before the grand jury because the alleged conduct occurred while they were performing official duties.
That ruling was overturned in 2023 when the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously found the six jailers did not meet the legal definition of peace officers and therefore were not entitled to the same grand jury protections afforded to police officers and deputies.
Defense attorney Mark Issa said he and his team entered court Monday prepared to argue immunity. Instead, prosecutors offered to dismiss all murder charges if Cook pleaded guilty. Issa said prosecutors appeared poised to argue that the remaining defendants were following Cook’s orders or the direction of others.
After eight years in the court system, Cook accepted the deal. A judge sentenced him to five years of probation, ordered 100 hours of community service during the first year, and barred him from working in law enforcement, detention, or private security.
Harper said the plea means May’s family will not be able to sue Cook for wrongful death. He said civil courts have already found the jailers enjoy certain protections and argued lawmakers and courts need to address a system in which officers can face criminal liability but still avoid civil responsibility because of qualified immunity.
WSB-TV reported the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office had not responded to requests for comment as of Monday night.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Murder Charges Dropped Against 5 Fulton County Jailers After Plea in Inmate Death
A former Fulton County jailer pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in Antonio May’s death, and prosecutors then dropped the remaining murder charges against five other ex-jailers.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: May 6, 2026 3:00 pm ET
ATLANTA, GA — The murder case against six former Fulton County jailers accused in the 2018 death of inmate Antonio May came to a close Monday when prosecutors agreed to dismiss the charges after one defendant entered a guilty plea.
Arron Cook pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and violation of oath of office of a public officer, according to court proceedings in Fulton County. The deal ended the long-running criminal case tied to May’s death after less than 10 hours in the Fulton County Jail.
According to WSB-TV, May was 32 when he died in 2018 after being arrested on accusations of trespassing and damaging property. Michael Harper, an attorney representing May’s mother and children, said May told officers in a holding cell that he was dealing with mental illness and drug addiction.
Harper said the confrontation escalated when May refused orders to put some of his clothing back on. He said six jailers entered the cell, beat May, used a Taser on him, restrained him, pepper-sprayed him, and took him to a shower for decontamination while he remained restrained. Harper said May then suffered cardiac arrest.
The criminal case did not move forward until 2021, when a grand jury formally charged the six former jailers with murder. Harper said the matter had languished in the district attorney’s office for years before then-District Attorney Fani Willis pursued the indictment.
Fulton County Judge Robert McBurney threw out the indictment in 2022, ruling the defendants should have been given notice and an opportunity to appear before the grand jury because the alleged conduct occurred while they were performing official duties.
That ruling was overturned in 2023 when the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously found the six jailers did not meet the legal definition of peace officers and therefore were not entitled to the same grand jury protections afforded to police officers and deputies.
Defense attorney Mark Issa said he and his team entered court Monday prepared to argue immunity. Instead, prosecutors offered to dismiss all murder charges if Cook pleaded guilty. Issa said prosecutors appeared poised to argue that the remaining defendants were following Cook’s orders or the direction of others.
After eight years in the court system, Cook accepted the deal. A judge sentenced him to five years of probation, ordered 100 hours of community service during the first year, and barred him from working in law enforcement, detention, or private security.
Harper said the plea means May’s family will not be able to sue Cook for wrongful death. He said civil courts have already found the jailers enjoy certain protections and argued lawmakers and courts need to address a system in which officers can face criminal liability but still avoid civil responsibility because of qualified immunity.
WSB-TV reported the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office had not responded to requests for comment as of Monday night.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Murder Charges Dropped Against 5 Fulton County Jailers After Plea in Inmate Death
A former Fulton County jailer pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in Antonio May’s death, and prosecutors then dropped the remaining murder charges against five other ex-jailers.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: May 6, 2026 3:00 pm ET
ATLANTA, GA — The murder case against six former Fulton County jailers accused in the 2018 death of inmate Antonio May came to a close Monday when prosecutors agreed to dismiss the charges after one defendant entered a guilty plea.
Arron Cook pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and violation of oath of office of a public officer, according to court proceedings in Fulton County. The deal ended the long-running criminal case tied to May’s death after less than 10 hours in the Fulton County Jail.
According to WSB-TV, May was 32 when he died in 2018 after being arrested on accusations of trespassing and damaging property. Michael Harper, an attorney representing May’s mother and children, said May told officers in a holding cell that he was dealing with mental illness and drug addiction.
Harper said the confrontation escalated when May refused orders to put some of his clothing back on. He said six jailers entered the cell, beat May, used a Taser on him, restrained him, pepper-sprayed him, and took him to a shower for decontamination while he remained restrained. Harper said May then suffered cardiac arrest.
The criminal case did not move forward until 2021, when a grand jury formally charged the six former jailers with murder. Harper said the matter had languished in the district attorney’s office for years before then-District Attorney Fani Willis pursued the indictment.
Fulton County Judge Robert McBurney threw out the indictment in 2022, ruling the defendants should have been given notice and an opportunity to appear before the grand jury because the alleged conduct occurred while they were performing official duties.
That ruling was overturned in 2023 when the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously found the six jailers did not meet the legal definition of peace officers and therefore were not entitled to the same grand jury protections afforded to police officers and deputies.
Defense attorney Mark Issa said he and his team entered court Monday prepared to argue immunity. Instead, prosecutors offered to dismiss all murder charges if Cook pleaded guilty. Issa said prosecutors appeared poised to argue that the remaining defendants were following Cook’s orders or the direction of others.
After eight years in the court system, Cook accepted the deal. A judge sentenced him to five years of probation, ordered 100 hours of community service during the first year, and barred him from working in law enforcement, detention, or private security.
Harper said the plea means May’s family will not be able to sue Cook for wrongful death. He said civil courts have already found the jailers enjoy certain protections and argued lawmakers and courts need to address a system in which officers can face criminal liability but still avoid civil responsibility because of qualified immunity.
WSB-TV reported the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office had not responded to requests for comment as of Monday night.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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