Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Arrests Macon, GA Man in 2023 Armed Robbery Investigation

Laron Jeffery Woodard

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------A Macon, GA man remains in jail today, after his arrest yesterday, on charges stemming from a December 2023 armed robbery investigation.

A Magistrate Judge denied bond on all charges against 38 year old Laron Jeffery Woodard of South Shore Drive.  Woodard was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center at around 3:32pm Monday.  Woodard was transported from the Bibb County (GA) Detention Center, in Macon, to Oconee County by a Deputy from the Warrants Unit. 

In regards to the ongoing investigation, a Violent Crimes Investigator from the Criminal Investigations Bureau charged Woodard with one count each Second Degree Burglary, Armed Robbery while armed with a Deadly Weapon, Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature and Possession of a Weapon during Commission of a Violent Crime. 

During the early morning hours of December 15th, 2023, Deputies from the Uniform Patrol Bureau responded to the Bountyland Quik Stop on S. Highway 11 due to reports of a possible armed robbery.  When Deputies arrived to begin the investigation, they were informed that a man was inside the store when an employee arrived that morning. 

According to information obtained during the investigation, Deputies were told that the man had a pistol in his hand and made threats to harm the employee.  The man then took the employees cell phone and then assaulted the employee. The man then left the store and was not located by Deputies when they arrived on scene. 

The Investigations was turned over to an Investigator, who charged Woodard based upon evidence obtained during the Investigation.  According to the arrest warrants, Woodard entered the business at night, without consent and while in possession of a deadly weapon, which was a semi-automatic pistol.

Also, Woodard took the victim’s cell phone, by use or threat of force, while armed with a pistol, according to an arrest warrant.  Deputies also charged Woodard with striking the victim in the head using the pistol. 

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank our law enforcement partners from Bibb County (GA) for their assistance and help in our investigation. 

Woodard will appear before a Circuit Court Judge, at a later time, regarding his bond.