Sexual assault charges of rape and aggravated sodomy filed against two Gainesville residents in late January have been dismissed.
Darryl Dewayne Johnson, 29, faced a rape charge and Taqueria Shanise Bell, 24, faced an aggravated sodomy charge following an incident on Baker Road on January 15.
"We had a committal hearing [Friday] in front of Judge Loggins in Hall County Magistrate Court and after a lengthy hearing, the judge dismissed the charges against both of my clients," said Dan Sammons, a Gainesville attorney who represented both Bell and Johnson.
"The case against my clients, basically what the court heard [Friday], was as good as the case was going to get," Sammons said. "In order for the case to move forward, they had to satisfy Judge Loggins that there existed probably cause and they were unable to do that."
Lt. Scott Ware with the Hall County Sheriff's Office said previously that the incident involved a 22-year-old female victim who was acquainted with Bell and Johnson in some way.
