DA Investigates Inquiry Into SCSO, Finds No Criminal Laws Broken

Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Christian completes his look into an inquiry made by three citizens alleging criminal activity by Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley and found that no criminal laws were violated by the sheriff.

Earlier this month, three men identified by the DA’s office as Phillip Roberts, Bob Lolley, and Wayne Roberts met with Christian in Habersham County to file their complaint.

Christian said the men made two specific allegations.

The first one was that the Sheriff allowed the Chaplain of the Sheriff’s Office to wear a uniform, complete with various accessories, and a chaplain’s badge. Christian said included in that allegation was the concern about the Chaplain riding with deputies and the sheriff and that he appeared in public in uniform.

Christian said that Chaplain Paul Garrison is a Peace Officer Standards and Training qualified chaplain current in all training requirements. Also, Christian said that he consulted with a sheriff from outside the Mountain Judicial Circuit and a member of the National Sheriff’s Association and said the sheriff has not violated any criminal law with respect to the office’s chaplain.

The second allegation was that the sheriff’s conduct at a reported kidnapping call on February 17 was criminal.

Christian said he reviewed the Sheriff’s Office and GBI reports on the case, as well as witness statements, along with talking to the GBI case agent about the case and based on his review and the totality of the circumstances, he is of the opinion that the sheriff has not violated any criminal law.