The Toombs Circuit District Attorney’s office has released video evidence and a statement in the case against Thomson Mayor Benji Cranford.
Cranford was found not guilty Tuesday by a McDuffie County jury of attempting to slip a bottle of gin to an inmate labor crew.
The video, requested by The Augusta Press, shows Cranford parking his SUV at Rimpy’s Liquor Store, where he leaves the car door open while he walks inside.
Emerging with a bag, Cranford backs up, then drives across the street, off the road into a grassy ditch on the right-of-way. The SUV stops, then drives away. Moments later, the work detail van pulls into the same spot.
Toombs DA Bill Doupe’ said his office stands behind its decision to prosecute, but respected the jury’s verdict. In a statement, he said:
My office reviews cases and makes determinations on prosecution based upon the facts uncovered and not based upon how politically powerful the accused might be. Justice is only justice when it is administered equally.
We reviewed this case and decided to take it to the grand jury. The grand jury returned an indictment. We then presented the case to a jury made up of McDuffie County citizens and they made their determination. We respect the jury’s verdict even though we felt the evidence showed otherwise.
Contraband, meanwhile, remains a big problem for local jails and prisons, including McDuffie County Correctional Institute, which houses state prisoners for jurisdictions to use on work details:
Contraband, whether it be drugs, cell phones or alcohol (as in this case,) is a major problem in our local jails and prisons. The issues that are created by contraband in confinement settings often spill over and harms our communities. My office will continue to support law enforcement in the prosecution of these type of cases.
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