Public Safety

Michelle Sykes knew something was wrong the moment her daughter called. It was 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 24, 2019, and the then-13 year old was spending the night with her best friend, the daughter of Keith Douglas Wilkins Jr. The girl called her mother and said she didn’t feel well, and she urgently wanted to come home. “It happens sometimes,” Sykes said. “Kids get homesick and want to...

Keith Douglas Wilkins Jr. of Delco took an Alford plea on charges of indecent liberties Thursday in Columbus County Superior Court. An Alford plea means the defendant does not admit guilt but recognizes he could be convicted. Wilkins molested a 13 year old girl spending the night with his daughter in 2019, according to court documents. As part of the plea deal, Superior Court Judge C. Ashley Gore...

Justin Burney was found guilty in a Brunswick County courtroom today of multiple charges of statutory sex offense and indecent liberties with a minor, and sentenced to at least 104 years in prison. Burney’s trial lasted nine days, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Superior court Judge Jason Disbrow sentenced Burney to four consecutive terms of 300 to 420 months, followed by three consecutive terms of 16-29 months...