(February 23, 2024) District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Neneto Blake, 35, of Auburn, Maine, entered a negotiated guilty plea in Jeff Davis Superior Court on February 26, 2024, to one count of Aggravated Assault and one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The facts of this case show that on Sunday, October 2, 2022, Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office (JDCSO)
Deputy Justin Sanders was dispatched to a residence on Lariat Lane in Hazlehurst, GA, to speak with the complainant, Cortez Eady, regarding an incident that began at church. Various other people, including members of the Eady family, were also standing around the residence when the deputy arrived to speak with Mr. Eady. Eady stated tensions broke out between his son, Dante Eady and the mother of his child, Lanyjah Lane. Threats had been made and Cortez Eady feared someone was going to come to their property. Eady stated he was going to protect his family and household.
While speaking with Cortez Eady, Deputy Sanders observed various individuals from the residence running towards Hwy 341/Saddle Drive. Lanyjah Lane, her sisters, and the defendant, Neneto Blake, who is the boyfriend of one of Lane’s sisters, had driven towards the Eady family property in a white vehicle. While stopped to confront the Eadys, Blake, seated in the back of the white vehicle, produced two firearms, and shot into the crowd of Eady family members. Fortunately, no one was injured during the shooting.
The vehicle then fled the scene and was pursued by JDCSO Deputy Sanders. After stopping the vehicle, law enforcement recovered two firearms that had been tossed from the vehicle during the pursuit. A spent 9mm shell casing was also recovered from the vehicle.
Pursuant to his plea agreement, Blake was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 20 years on probation. He was sentenced as a recidivist due to three prior felony convictions in Florida and thus will not be eligible for parole. The sentence was handed down in Brunswick Circuit Superior Court by Judge Roger B. Lane. The driver of the vehicle, Chakkeria Lane, was also charged for her role in assisting Blake in fleeing after the assault. She pled and was sentenced in May of 2023.
