Augusta Commissioner Sammie Sias was released on bond Wednesday after pleading not guilty to federal charges of destroying records and lying to federal investigators.
Sias’ arraignment in the U.S. Southern District of Georgia’s Augusta Office follows his July 7 indictment by a federal grand jury. The charges stem from an investigation of accusations made by the commissioner’s former lover, Willa Hilton, regarding misuse of county funds and other wrongdoing while Sias managed the city-owned Jamestown Community Center.
Sias faces up to 20 years in prison and $500,000 in fines if convicted.
Sias Indictment by augustapress on Scribd
Magistrate Judge Brian Epps began the arraignment by reminding Sias of his right to remain silent, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Green Rhodes listed the charges Sias is facing.
Sias waived a formal reading of the indictment and entered a not guilty plea.
The prosecution did not request Sias be incarcerated, pending his trial.
Judge Epps set bond at $50,000, secured by 10% in cash.
Sias’ attorney, David Stewart, asked if it could be an unsecured bond, indicating Sias may not be able to pay $5,000.
Judge Epps allowed the unsecured bond to give Sias until 5 p.m. Aug. 9 to post the 10% security money. If he is unable to pay the bond, a hearing is set for Tuesday morning to determine whether Sias should be taken into custody.
Terms of the bond require Sias to surrender his passport. He is also not allowed to travel outside the court’s boundaries or possess any firearms, and he must observe a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. Sias is also forbidden from having contact with any of the victims or witnesses involved in the case.
Stewart assured the judge that after 28 years in the U.S. Army, Sias knows how to follow orders.
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Sias, accompanied by his attorney, left the courthouse without making any comments.
The investigation that led to Sias’ indictment began with an August 2019 raid at his home. Investigators seized computers and boxes of documents connected to alleged corruption during his management of the Jamestown Community Center.
Augusta commissioners requested the investigation following accusations Hilton made in a letter to the board. Hilton, who worked for Sias at the community center, claimed in the letter to be Sias’ former lover.
Hilton alleged that Sias drank alcohol, packed a firearm, verbally abused summer campers and watched pornography on the job. She also accused the commissioner of having his hands in the taxpayers’ till. According to Hilton’s letter, Sias submitted forged invoices for repair work at the center that were paid out of SPLOST funds. He is also alleged to have written himself checks payable to “cash” out of those same tax funds.
Sias is continuing to serve on the Augusta Commission pending a decision by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who has the authority to remove him from office.
MORE: Augusta Commissioner Sammie Sias Indicted
On July 26, Kemp named Attorney General Christopher Carr, Jefferson County Commissioner Johnny Davis and Georgetown-Quitman County Commissioner Carvel Lewis to review the indictment and decide if Sias should be suspended from office. The review commission has 14 days to make a recommendation to the governor.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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