The second in command at the Richmond County State Court Solicitor’s Office, which is responsible for most family violence prosecutions, has been accused of beating his wife.
Chief Assistant Solicitor Geoffrey Alls’ wife was granted a temporary order of protection May 6, the same day she filed for divorce. She alleges in her petition that Alls punched her with a closed fist on her head and in the face.
Alls, who move over to the solicitor’s office from the district attorney’s office on Feb. 21, has been placed on administrative leave, Solicitor Omeeka Loggins told The Augusta Press on Friday.
Although no criminal charges were filed by the Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies called to the couple’s home on May 3, and there are limited known facts at this time, Loggins said she believed putting Alls on leave was the right thing to do for her office and for the integrity of the work they do.
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“It was the appropriate step at this point considering what we do in this office … I must be able to assure victims of domestic crimes that we are there for them,” Loggins said.
Loggins said she is awaiting a judge’s decision on the protective order before taking further steps, if any, regarding Alls’ employment status.
Temporary orders of protection can be issued by judges based on only an alleged victim’s sworn statement. A hearing is immediately set to give the other side the opportunity to be heard in court.
Chief Judge Daniel J. Craig signed the temporary order of protection for Alls’ estranged wife. In addition to the normal restrictions against contacting the alleged victim or going to her home or place of employment, Alls is further restricted from removing any firearm from the family home, and he was ordered to turn over to law enforcement any firearm in his possession.
According to the petition, Alls’ wife stated she was talking on the phone when Alls barged through the door, cursing and screaming, and then he began punching her with a closed fist. The petition states Alls only stopped when one of their small children came in the room crying and yelling for Alls to stop. The wife also alleges Alls tried to prevent her from calling 911 and damaged her phone.
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Punching someone is a crime in Georgia, as are interfering with someone’s attempt to call 911 and damaging someone else’s property. Alls, however, wasn’t charged May 3 with any crime.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office refused to release a copy of the incident report on Friday, and an Open Records request for all reports and body cam video from the night of May 3 at the Alls’ home hasn’t been complied with.
Alls was hired as a city attorney for the city of Augusta in 2016. He moved to the district attorney’s office in 2020 to serve as chief assistant district attorney for District Attorney Jared Williams before moving to the solicitor’s office.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
