Dejad Williams now faces a second-degree murder in the shooting death of the 8-year-old Fort Valley boy who lived with him.
District Attorney David Cooke discussed the new charges at a news conference Friday.
"Williams is accused of causing Jai'Mel's death by acting with criminal negligence and the reckless disregard for Jai'Mel's safety."
Jai'Mel Anderson was shot to death after 1 a.m. on Jan. 6 . The gunman fired shots through the front door of an Indian Oaks apartment on E. Church Street.
He was shot twice that night, once in the chest, and once in the leg, as he slept. He later died from those wounds.
Citing the warrant, Cooke explained why Williams was charged, saying, "Williams did engage in and encourage threats and aggravated assaults involving a firearm by sending text messages to another person. Secondly, that he did reveal his address and invite assailants to come to that address to engage in armed violence. Third, that he did arm himself with a handgun in anticipation of this confrontation. And then finally that Williams did engage in this conduct knowing that an eight-year-old child, Jai'Mel, was at this location, under Williams' supervision."
Cooke said Williams is being charged under a new law passed by the Georgia General Assembly last year. That law allows a second-degree murder charge in child-abuse cases.
According to Cooke, Williams knowingly put Jai'Mel in harms way, using text messages to lure the shooter, or shooters, into a confrontation at his home.
Cooke says, "This invitation for armed violence caused a foreseeable risk of danger to Jai'Mel, and that Williams took no action to protect him from this imminent harm. In the end this warrant alleges that these actions demonstrated a willful, wanton, and reckless disregard for Jai'Mel's safety, and they caused cruel and excessive physical pain, and ultimately, his death."
Cooke says if convicted Williams faces 10 to 30 years in prison.
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"Not only did Williams reveal his address but he invited the assailants to come to this address to engage in armed violence and mutual combat, according to the news release.
Williams knew that Jai'Mel Anderson was at the home, but took no action to protect him, according to the release from Fort Valley Chief Lawrence Spurgeon.
Williams appeared Friday before a magistrate judge on the murder charge and is being held without bond in the Peach County jail.
Five other men already face charges in the case.
