Grand Jury Indicts 2 Accused Of Setting Fire To ATM

HOLLY SPRINGS, GA — The two men accused of setting an ATM on fire outside a Holly Springs bank have been indicted on charges in connection to the incident.

A Cherokee County grand jury this month indicted Jackieren LaQuawn Hughes and Jahkwe B. Aquart with one count each of criminal attempt to commit a felony, criminal damage to property in the second degree and possession of tools for the commission of a crime, court records show.

Officers with the Holly Springs Police Department were dispatched around 4:17 a.m. Monday, July 2 to an alarm call at the Chase Bank ATM at 6230 Old Highway 5, which is located in the shopping center anchored by Publix near East Cherokee Drive.

They arrived at the scene and were able to quickly arrest one suspect and the other was captured near the scene of the incident, the agency added. An investigation reveals gasoline was used to ignite the ATM, and detectives found a gas can and cylinder in a car found parked "close to the scene." The ATM was damaged, but no money was taken, Holly Springs police added.

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According to the indictment, the two men allegedly tried to commit theft by taking in an amount exceeding $24,999 by creating an explosion to open the ATM and take the money from the machine. They also had in their possession a gasoline container, crowbar and oxygen and acetylene cylinders at the time of the fire, the indictment notes.

Warrants obtained by Holly Springs police note the damage to the ATM exceeded $500. Along with the aforementioned charges, they were also originally charged with arson in the first degree, felony theft by taking and reckless conduct.

Arraignment for Hughes and Aquart, both Atlanta residents, will be held at 9 a.m. Sept. 7 in Courtroom 2A at the Cherokee County Justice Center.

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