Augusta Circuit District Attorney Jared Williams has declared a conflict of interest and is seeking two new prosecutors to be appointed in an ongoing investigation involving Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams and the Burke County Commission.
Due to recent events, the DA’s duty to advise the sheriff is in conflict with his duty to “prosecute any offense for which (the sheriff) may be charged,” DA Williams said in a statement.
As recently reported by WRDW’s Will Rioux, the moves stem in part from a long-running dispute between the Burke sheriff and the county commission over the sheriff’s handling of public funds.
Last month Williams filed an incident report accusing County Manager Merv Woldrop and the Burke County Board of Commissioners of violating their oaths of office, malfeasance in office and obstructing law enforcement.
Williams also filed a civil suit against them. Wednesday, the five superior court judges of the Augusta Judicial Circuit recused themselves from the case.
Burke County officials, meanwhile, have requested Gov. Brian Kemp investigate Williams and consider removing him from office.
“The sheriff has long misinterpreted the discretion afforded to elected constitutional county officers over the spending of the funds allocated to them in their budgets,” said a letter from County Commission Chairman Evans Martin.
The commission also asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to look at Williams’ spending, and the GBI sought assistance from DA Williams’ office. Results of that probe have not come to light.
DA Williams said his actions Thursday follow the sheriff issuing the incident report.
“The county attorney has argued that Sheriff Williams’ actions constitute a crime. A reasonable prosecutor could concur with this assessment,” the DA wrote.
DA Williams said the investigation into Sheriff Williams “ultimately grew outside of the GBI and (DA’s office), demanding coordination with other authorities.”
The district attorney said until now his office has been able to keep the investigation of Sheriff Williams separate from his duties as prosecutor. But now he has to declare a conflict of interest and request a new prosecutor in both the investigation of Williams and in advising Williams about the incident report, he said.
DA Press Release – Conflict of Interest in Burke County by Susan McCord on Scribd
