State asked to look at Pendergrass court
District Attorney Brad Smith announced Friday that he has asked the Administrative Office of the Courts of Georgia to look into the operation of the Municipal Court of Pendergrass.
Smith said the GBI had declined to look into allegations from a group of Pendergrass whistleblowers of ticket-fixing in the court because there appeared to be no criminal violations. Smith said he then asked the state to look into the operations to “restore confidence” in the system.
“In a letter dated August 26, 2009, (I) asked the Administrative Office of the Courts of Georgia to conduct an audit/investigation into the procedures and actions of the Municipal Court of Pendergrass in order to restore public confidence in the Courts and to bring closure to this issue,” said Smith in the news release Friday.
The release also said that allegations concerning the misuse of SPLOST money “would not be a violation of Georgia law that is subject to criminal sanctions.”
“It could not be investigated or prosecuted by the GBI or District Attorney’s Office,” Smith said. “The legal remedy for any alleged misuse of SPLOST revenue would be a civil lawsuit, which the District Attorney’s Office would not have standing to execute.”
The release also said the GBI investigation into the possible misuse of city funds is ongoing.
“It is unclear at this time how long this investigation will take,” said Smith. “Due to legal and ethical requirements, the GBI and District Attorney’s Office cannot comment on an ongoing criminal investigation; however, the results of this investigation will be revealed at the appropriate legal and ethical time.”
“In a letter dated August 26, 2009, (I) asked the Administrative Office of the Courts of Georgia to conduct an audit/investigation into the procedures and actions of the Municipal Court of Pendergrass in order to restore public confidence in the Courts and to bring closure to this issue,” said Smith in the news release Friday.
The release also said that allegations concerning the misuse of SPLOST money “would not be a violation of Georgia law that is subject to criminal sanctions.”
“It could not be investigated or prosecuted by the GBI or District Attorney’s Office,” Smith said. “The legal remedy for any alleged misuse of SPLOST revenue would be a civil lawsuit, which the District Attorney’s Office would not have standing to execute.”
The release also said the GBI investigation into the possible misuse of city funds is ongoing.
“It is unclear at this time how long this investigation will take,” said Smith. “Due to legal and ethical requirements, the GBI and District Attorney’s Office cannot comment on an ongoing criminal investigation; however, the results of this investigation will be revealed at the appropriate legal and ethical time.”
Wait a cotton picking minute the DA said he ask the GBI to look at it and they declined to look at it because they said there didn't appear to be no criminal violations? Wouldn't ticket fixing be a criminal violation?