EFFINGHAM, Ga. () — The Supreme Court of Georgia has upheld the conviction of Tony Arnsdorff.
In 2019, Arnsdorff received a life sentence without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 15 years, for the 2017 murder of Courtney Wells in Effingham County. A jury found Arnsdorff guilty on 11 charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and concealing a death.
Arnsdorff requested a new trial, but it was denied. He subsequently sought to overturn the order due to a notification delay, which was granted, but his following appeal was dismissed. After additional legal actions, the trial court annulled the previous orders and again refused the motion for a new trial. Arnsdorff submitted an appeal.
The Supreme Court of Georgia examined the case and confirmed the trial court’s decisions. It concluded that the evidence was adequate to sustain Arnsdorff’s convictions for malice murder and firearm possession during the commission of a felony. Furthermore, the court maintained the felony sentence for tampering with evidence, as it pertained to the prosecution of another individual for a serious violent crime.
Arnsdorff received the same sentence as another man charged in Wells’ murder, Scott Pinholster. Prosecutors contended that Pinholster shot Wells in the face with a shotgun and that he and Arnsdorff left her body lying on a dirt road in January 2017.
Pinholster testified that Wells was using meth and he was trying to help her get her life straightened out. However, prosecutors said Pinholster also was active in the local drug scene, even selling marijuana, and that he was angry at Wells.
Arnsdorff originally pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Wells’ death but later withdrew his plea and asked for a trial.
