The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the felony murder conviction and life sentence without parole for John Lorenzo Dickerson in *Dickerson v. The State*, decided January 21, 2026. Dickerson was convicted for the shooting death of Bernie Givens in Emanuel County on October 1, 2016.
An Emanuel County grand jury indicted Dickerson on December 14, 2016, charging him with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, criminal attempt to commit armed robbery, and four counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The charges stemmed from the fatal shooting of Givens during what prosecutors alleged was an attempted armed robbery.
During the trial from September 25 to 29, 2017, the jury found Dickerson not guilty of malice murder and one firearm possession count but guilty of the remaining charges. The jury convicted him of felony murder, aggravated assault, attempted armed robbery, and three counts of firearm possession during commission of a felony.
On October 12, 2017, the trial court sentenced Dickerson to life in prison without the possibility of parole for felony murder. The court imposed additional consecutive sentences totaling decades: five years for firearm possession consecutive to the life sentence, 30 years for attempted armed robbery concurrent with the life sentence, and five years for another firearm count consecutive to the robbery charge but concurrent with the previous firearm sentence. The aggravated assault charge was merged with the felony murder conviction for sentencing purposes.
Dickerson filed a motion for new trial on October 20, 2017, which he amended several times over the following years. The trial court held hearings on the motion on August 7, 2019, and April 6, 2022, before ultimately denying it on February 10, 2025. Dickerson filed his notice of appeal four days later on February 14, 2025.
The case was docketed to the Georgia Supreme Court's August term and orally argued on November 4, 2025. During the appeal process, Dickerson raised several challenges to his conviction and sentence.
According to the court opinion authored by Justice Land, Dickerson argued that the trial court committed error by admitting extrinsic evidence for purposes of establishing intent and identity. He also challenged the trial court's decision to give the jury instructions on flight and witness intimidation, arguing these instructions were inappropriate or prejudicial.
Additionally, Dickerson claimed his trial counsel provided constitutionally ineffective assistance by failing to object when the state presented certain evidence or arguments during the trial proceedings. These ineffective assistance claims are common in criminal appeals and require defendants to demonstrate both deficient performance by counsel and that the deficiency prejudiced the defense.
The Georgia Supreme Court's decision to affirm the conviction means it rejected each of Dickerson's appellate arguments. The court found no reversible error in the trial court's evidentiary rulings or jury instructions, and determined that any claimed deficiencies in trial counsel's performance did not warrant overturning the conviction.
The case reflects the complex procedural history typical of serious felony cases. From the initial indictment in late 2016 through the Supreme Court's decision nearly a decade later, the case progressed through multiple phases of litigation. The lengthy delay between the original motion for new trial filing and its denial - nearly eight years - illustrates the deliberate pace often required for thorough review in capital-level cases.
Felony murder convictions in Georgia carry mandatory life sentences, either with or without the possibility of parole. The jury's decision to convict on felony murder rather than malice murder suggests they found Dickerson caused Givens' death during the commission of another felony - the attempted armed robbery - but may not have found the specific intent required for malice murder.
The firearm possession charges reflect Georgia's strict penalties for using weapons during violent crimes. These charges typically carry mandatory minimum sentences that must run consecutive to the underlying felony, explaining the additional years added to Dickerson's life sentence.
With the Georgia Supreme Court's affirmation, Dickerson has exhausted his direct appeals in state court. His options for further review are limited to potential federal habeas corpus proceedings or clemency requests. The Supreme Court's decision represents the final word on the sufficiency of evidence and trial procedures in this case.
The opinion remains subject to modification under Georgia Supreme Court Rule 27, which allows for reconsideration motions and editorial revisions. The final version will appear in the bound Georgia Reports volumes as the official text of the court's decision.