Former Piedmont ADA Responds to Theft Charges

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Former Piedmont Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Sam Skelton says he is looking forward to telling his side of the story regarding his arrest last week on theft by taking charges.

Last Thursday, a Banks County Grand Jury indicted Skelton on 33 counts of theft by taking.

He turned himself in to the Banks County Sheriff’s Office and was released later on a $31,000 bond.

Authorities say the indictment stems from a months long investigation by agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation regarding money missing from the evidence room at the Banks County Sheriff’s Office.

In a prepared release issued late Friday, Skelton says he is “deeply disappointed and saddened by the decision to bring criminal charges against me.”

Skelton says during his time as an ADA in the Piedmont Circuit he always strived to serve the citizens and local law enforcement to best of his ability.

He says he doesn’t yet know the details of the allegations against him, but said, “I am not a thief.”

GBI officials say that as a result of some initial findings, Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed met with Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brad Smith and they requested that the GBI investigate.

According to the GBI, the investigation uncovered thefts of court fines and fees by former ADA Skelton.

The GBI says a special prosecutor has been assigned from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council at the request of the state Attorney General.