Man accused in toddler's death has criminal past

WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — A man accused of hitting and killing a toddler while under the influence in a grocery store parking lot has a long criminal past, Channel 2 Action News learned.

James “Jay” Holcomb was driving in the parking lot Tuesday afternoon when he is accused of hitting Easton Corbin, 3, and pinning him between two cars.

Channel 2’s Nicole Carr dug through Holcomb’s past and found a more than 20-year history of drug and alcohol-related charges.

In court Thursday, Holcomb sobbed as he listened to testimony about the crash.

"Witnesses on the scene say that he appeared to be incoherent, slumped over the steering wheel. I understand he was removed from the vehicle by some witnesses,” Cleveland police Chief John Foster said. "The witnesses actually put the vehicle in reverse and backed the vehicle off the child."

The toddler's family made sure everyone saw the boy's face.

"He's not just another kid. He was a person. He had a personality. He was, you know, full of life,” his uncle, Emory Cain, said.

Holcomb, 36, was denied bond, being deemed a danger to his community.

“He took a life. You know, I don't think there's anything worse in this world you can do than take a life,” Cain said.

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Holcomb, the son of a White County commissioner, is facing DUI, reckless driving, vehicular homicide and driving on a suspended license charges for Easton’s death.

In court, Carr discovered that Holcomb was out on probation at the time of the deadly accident, facing misdemeanor drug-related charges that stem from a September incident where witnesses believed his own child was in danger after he was spotted wandering in a motel parking lot. Those charges could be upgraded to felony charges pending GBI lab tests.

Carr also filed an open records request that revealed Holcomb’s drug and alcohol-related charges date back to 1998 and resulted in nearly a dozen arrests.

A 2008 case a disposition notes Holcomb flipped his car in a bank parking, admitting to drinking three beers an hour before the accident.

Records show Holcomb never spent any significant time behind bars, often managing to get charges dropped after unsuccessful attempts at probation, community service and drug treatment counseling. In one case, the statute of limitations resulted in DUI charge dismissal. The case had lingered in court for four years.

For Easton's family, enough is enough.

"Just that he was out and able to do that is a little bit sickening,” Cain said.

Cox Media Group