No Charges Filed For Remote Operated Shotguns

No charges have been filed against Jay Williams, a Lee County landowner, interviewed by DNR law enforcement in connection with two batteries of remotely operated shotguns found in the Lee County woods on a Georgia Power right-of-way in November.

According to Capt. Jeff Swift, with Region 5 law enforcement, he has no evidence to suggest the systems were rigged for web-triggered firing. Swift said he has spoken with Williams who told him the systems were designed to be fired on-site with a remote-control device.

“The only reason the remote was necessary for him, it is my understanding, is because he couldn’t fire eight shotguns at one time,” said Swift.

Williams told Swift the weapons were intended for use in feral hog control. He also told Swift he had not used the systems for hunting, and he couldn’t get them to operate properly.

The systems were removed by the time DNR Law Enforcement arrived on the scene; however, an investigation was still conducted. Swift said no evidence was found that the weapons had been used on wildlife or that they had even been fired at the site.

“It’s not illegal to build them. It’s not illegal to possess them. The use of them would be illegal,” said Swift. “Unless there is some evidence to indicate that they have been used to hunt wildlife or feral hogs, there are no charges that will be filed. We don’t have the evidence to support it.”

The investigation will remain open in case new evidence arises, said Swift.