12 On Your Side Investigates: Ex-deputy pleads guilty to aggravated assault
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - There is an update about the former Richmond County deputy accused of attacking another deputy during an emergency call.
Brandon Keathley’s trial was set for May 19, but around 2 p.m. Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.
He’s charged with aggravated assault and aggravated assault on a police officer.
The incident happened back in February 2020, and he hasn’t worn a deputy uniform since December 2020.
Time is running out to opt out of Denmark class-action settlement
Residents in Denmark only have about two weeks to postmark Letters of Objection to a proposed settlement over the town’s drinking water.
Keathley is accused of hitting Deputy Nick Nunes with a flashlight as that deputy was trying to perform R on a teenager who had been shot.
Nunes needed stitches and staples in the back of his head. Nunes now lives in Arizona, and he ed virtually.
But there were a few technical difficulties getting Nunes to , leading them to move to another case while they figured it out around 2:15 p.m.
Natalie Paine is representing the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office.
She was the Richmond County District Attorney at the time of the incident and took it to two Richmond County grand juries, but when District Attorney Jarred Williams took over, this was a conflict case for him.
12 ON YOUR SIDE INVESTIGATIONS:
- Follow up on Ga. speed camera bills
- Ga. bills to limit school zone speed cameras move forward
- Automated speed cameras – for protection or for profit?
His former law firm is representing Keathley.
Dressed in a blue suit, Keathley now has a beard, different from his clean-shaven face as a deputy.
Keathley said his last job was with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
There was another cost – transparency. Because this case has dragged on for years, so much of it has remained in the dark.
It’s why in 2023, a source gave 12 On Your Side Investigates exclusive body-cam footage, showing what happened that night.
Keathley: “Nunes, step back.”
Nunes: “I’m f***ing working on him dude. I’m - get the f*** away. Don’t f***ing push me when I’m f***ing working.”
At this point in the video, a sound is heard.
Organization keeps public informed on CSRA water quality
Veterans for Clean Water provides weekly testing throughout the summer to keep the public informed on the water quality of local rivers and lakes.
Nunes: “Dude – did you just f***ing hit me? Did you just f***ing hit me with the flashlight, dude?”
Paine started describing the incident.
Paine describes Circle K on Peach Orchard Road as the scene of the incident, where the victim was in the car.
Keathley arrived with his trainee, then Nunes arrived. Paine said there was a disagreement about who should perform R.
They were all squatting down. Keathley brushes Nunes off, Nunes shoves him, and Keathley then hits Nunes in the back of the head.
Nunes started bleeding and needed staples in his head.
Paine took the case to two grand juries, where the first recommended charges and the second indicted him.
Road closures announced ahead of Thunder Over Evans event
Thunder Over Evans is coming back into town to offer some family fun over the weekend.
This was an Alford plea, where Keathley did not it guilt, but itted there was enough evidence to convict him.
The attorney then began speaking on Keathley’s behalf.
The attorney said Keathley has been diagnosed with PTSD, which comes from serving in the army for six years and having two deployments in Iraq.
Keathley is 41 and is two semesters away from a history degree. Keathley worked for Vogtle, then the fire department, then the sheriff’s office.
Keathley has been on bond for five years, has had good behavior, and is asking for two and a half years of probation under the First Offender Act.
Attorney says Keathley doesn’t want to be a police officer ever again, but wants to serve in the community in some capacity.
Harlem residents invited to voice thoughts on possible expansion
The City of Harlem is set to discuss an annexation request this month to expand the zoning of the city.
A friend of Keathley also spoke on his behalf.
He said they met in the police academy, where they were partners. He said Keathley would buy groceries for people, and bought a bus ticket for someone to Ohio.
Keathley declined to speak.
Nunes has been waiting for justice for five years, and today he is the voice of all past, present, and future victims of police brutality. Nunes asked for the max sentence.
Judge Stone reminded Keathley he could be resentenced to the maximum amount — 20 years, if he violates any aspect of his first offender status.
Keathley said he understands and still wants to move forward.
Keathley was sentenced to five years probation by the judge’s decision.
There are some special conditions for Keathley’s sentence: report to the probation office, provide a DNA sample, into evaluation for communicable diseases, enter an anger management program, he cannot have any firearms within his reach or possession and he cannot have any with Nunes.
“This will effectively end your law enforcement career,” Judge Stone said.
The trial concluded, and everyone exited the courtroom shortly after.
Since 2020, Keathley has been paid to sit at home. Our calculations show $200,000 of taxpayer money for him to sit at home.
Now, he has to pay his own price.
Keathley was in court April 15, and the hearing centered on a jury that has yet to be seated.
The defense attorney started off by handing the Judge Stone a stack of paper and DVDs — all copies, he says, of coverage of this case.
The 17-year-old did not survive.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
