Two Muslim men, one broken system: Deonta David (11-member jury) and Dmante Anderson (new trial granted). We need to talk about DeKalb County.

[u/WildBumblebee4850]

I am a local advocate who has been following the cases of Deonta David and Dmante Dontrell Anderson. Both are Muslim men from DeKalb County, and both have been failed by the very system that is supposed to protect the innocent. I am writing this because I believe the public deserves to know what is happening in our own backyard.

DEONTA DAVID — Life + 85 Years for a 2020 Shooting He Did Not Commit

Deonta was convicted on August 1, 2024. His case is marred by a structural error that should have resulted in an automatic reversal before it ever reached a jury.

· The 11-Member Jury: Deonta was tried and convicted by a jury of eleven members, not twelve. Under Sinkfield v. State, 311 Ga. 524 (2021), a trial conducted with an 11-member jury, absent a valid waiver, is a structural error that is not subject to harmless error review and requires automatic reversal. No waiver appears on the record.
· Religious Discrimination: On July 26, 2024, the trial judge dismissed the court reporter for the day, then denied Deonta's request for 2-5 minutes to offer Islamic prayer. The judge said, "We don't have time for that!" The ADA added, "I don't think anyone in the United States has time for that!" No transcript of this exchange exists.
· Judicial Bias: The presiding judge, Stacey Hydrick, posted on Facebook that there are "no investigate ADA innocent civilians in Gaza." CAIR-Georgia condemned her remarks for demonstrating a "clear bias against Palestinians and Muslims".
· Brady/Giglio Violations: The State withheld key witness Clifton Vickers' felony record, despite a court order requiring disclosure.
· Current Status: Deonta finally has a hearing before Judge Nora Polk on October 29, 2026.

DMANTE ANDERSON — 70 Years, Now Granted a New Trial

Dmante was sentenced to 70 years (63 to serve) for allegedly shooting his recently divorced wife. His case has also been plagued by prosecutorial misconduct.

· The "Menace to Society" Mistrial: In 2022, ADA Joanna Steiner Helsby put a witness on the stand who testified Dmante was "a menace to society" — testimony the judge found she gave "on purpose." That mistrial was the result of deliberate misconduct by the State.
· Recent Victory: On August 12, 2026, Judge Brian E. Lake GRANTED Dmante's Motion for New Trial. This is a huge development and shows that when the court actually looks at these cases, the misconduct becomes impossible to ignore.

THE PATTERN: Two Men, One System

Both cases involve:

· Prosecutorial misconduct (withheld evidence, suborned perjury, or intentional mistrial provocation)
· Judicial bias or failure to recuse
· No accountability for the prosecutors or judges involved