Fayette County throws the book at domestic abuser and locks him up for life

On February 3^rd, 2025, a Fayette County jury convicted Ervin Wallace of Kidnapping, Hijacking a Motor Vehicle, False Imprisonment, Aggravated Assault Family Violence, three counts of Possession of a Firearm/Taser during the Commission of a Felony, Cruelty to Children 3^rd degree, and Tampering with Evidence. The Fayetteville Police Department investigated the case with the assistance of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.  Senior Assistant District Attorney Monique Harris and Assistant District Attorney Jon Richardson represented the State at trial.

The evidence presented at trial showed that on September 11^th, 2024, the victim approached the police car of Officer Diaz of the Fayetteville Police Department who was near “This is It” restaurant patrolling passing traffic. She told Officer Diaz that she had just been attacked by her ex-boyfriend, Ervin Wallace. Officer Diaz observed scratches on her neck and multiple bruises on both of her legs. She also stated that Wallace attacked her inside of her car while parked at the restaurant and used a taser on her multiple times before taking possession of the vehicle and driving away with their 8-year-old daughter in the back seat. The victim stated that the defendant was angry and accusing her of cheating on him during their past relationship. Wallace tased her multiple times on the neck and legs as she attempted to get out of the car and was able to pull her back into the car by her hair. Eventually she was able to flee out of the passenger seat and the defendant took her car with the child still inside.

Officers were able to locate the car heading back towards “This is It” and were able to stop and detain Wallace. Officers were able to safely remove the frantic child from the car and reunite her with her mom. According to the little girl, Wallace told her, “don’t tell the police I tased mom” and “don’t you know I’m going to get arrested”. The juvenile stated that Wallace threw the taser out the window and into some bushes.  According to Georgia law, a taser falls under the statute criminalizing possession of a firearm during the commission of criminal acts. While speaking with police on scene, the victim told Officer Diaz that there was a previous history of domestic violence, but nothing ever seemed to happen to Wallace. She stated that he previously told her that he was friends with a judge, and nothing would ever happen to him. Law enforcement was able to find evidence of prior incidents involving Wallace and the victim; however, those incidents never resulted in any arrests for domestic violence.

“This is a classic example of the kind of power and control wielded by a domestic abuser,” said D.A. Broder. “The defendant used his size, fear, and pain to try to control the woman he felt was no longer under his control. Wallace never thought he would be held accountable for his actions, but a jury was able to see through the manipulation and render a verdict that was just. I am so grateful for the time and attention given by those jurors, and I am proud of my team who never wavered in their commitment to do the right thing.”

The Honorable Chief Judge Scott Ballard presided over the case and sentenced Defendant to Life followed by 30 years to serve.