Cherokee County, GA – Two Alabama men involved in a three-hour SWAT standoff in Cherokee County in 2021 have been sentenced to 50 years in prison following guilty pleas, according to the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office.
According to prosecutors, Jeffrey Leighton Danner, 35, of Ariton, Alabama, pleaded guilty but mentally ill on November 12, 2025, to four counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer and one count of first-degree criminal damage to property. Chief Superior Court Judge David L. Cannon Jr. sentenced him to 50 years, with the first 20 to be served in confinement. The Georgia Department of Corrections will oversee his mental health treatment while incarcerated.
Co-defendant Kaleb Hunter Kirkland, 27, of Dothan, Alabama, previously pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced on April 25, 2024, also receiving a 50-year sentence, with 25 years to be served in confinement.
Authorities said the charges stem from a response that began around 2 p.m. on February 28, 2021, after law enforcement in Cherokee County received information about a silver Ford Escape believed to be linked to violent crimes in Alabama. A Ball Ground police officer located the vehicle on Highway 5, initiating a pursuit that continued onto Leo Taylor Lane before the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled into the woods.
During the standoff, prosecutors said shots were fired at four law enforcement officers, though no officers were injured. After several hours, SWAT members moved in; Kirkland, who was allegedly armed with a rifle, was shot by a SWAT member after failing to comply with commands. Danner was arrested without further incident.
District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway said the sentences reflect the seriousness of the defendants’ actions and the commitment to public safety in Cherokee County.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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