A temporary restraining order against the second in command of the Richmond County State Court Solicitor’s Office has been extended for 30 days.
At a brief hearing Wednesday, May 25, in Richmond County Superior Court, the attorneys for Geoffrey Alls and his estranged wife informed the judge that they are discussing a resolution to the petitions she filed seeking a divorce and a family violence protection order.
Judge John Flythe signed the order Wednesday in court to continue the matter while the parties negotiate a settlement. New hearings will be set if no agreement is reached.
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Alls started a new job as chief assistant solicitor for Richmond County State Court on Feb. 21. The Solicitor’s Office is responsible for prosecuting the vast majority of domestic violence cases. Solicitor Omeega Loggins, who has and continues to work to bring public awareness of the problem of domestic violence in the community, told The Augusta Press last week that she placed Alls on administrative leave pending the outcome of the temporary protective order.
On May 3, Alls’ wife called 911 for help. Alls was not arrested that afternoon. His estranged wife was granted a temporary order of protection on May 6 based on her sworn statement that Alls was verbally and physically abusive on May 3, punching her with a closed fist and damaging her cell phone to try to prevent her from calling 911.
The Press requested the incident report completed by the Richmond County Sheriff’s officers and all body cam video of their actions during the call at Alls’ home. However, the sheriff’s public information office has refused to provide the information. A representative of that office claims a state statute that requires local law enforcement agencies to file a report with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation about every domestic violence call exempts reports from public view when no arrest is made.
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The Augusta Press has contested such interpretation of the state statue though an attorney. The Sheriff’s Office continues to deny The Augusta Press’s request.
A family violence protective order isn’t dependent on an arrest in Georgia. After a petition is granted, the judge immediately sets a hearing date for the opposing party to have an opportunity to response to the allegations raised in the petition. At that hearing, the judge can then decide to dismiss the petition or extent it after hearing from both sides. For Alls, that hearing was set for Wednesday.
A violation of a family violence protective order is a felony offense in Georgia.
Alls was hired in Augusta as a city attorney in 2016. He became chief assistant district attorney after voters elected Jared Williams district attorney beginning in 2020. He began at the Solicitor’s Office in February.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
