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Former DA Tim Madison Gets 6-Year Prison Sentence
By Angela Gary
It was the lack of an apology that
apparently angered the judge the
most. Superior Court Judge Robert
Mallis strongly chastised former
District Attorney Tim Madison for
not apologizing to the young assis
tant he pulled into his theft scheme
before he sentenced the former
District Attorney to serve six years
in prison.
Madison will likely serve the time
in a federal prison.
“What you have done to this
county is insignificant compared
to what you have done to Brett
Williams," the judge told Madison.
“What I was hoping to hear in
this hearing today was about Brett
Williams. You apologized to every
one in this courtroom ... to your
family and friends ... to this circuit
... but not one word about Brett
Williams ... You used one of your
own assistant district attorneys... a
young man who I’m sure respected
you as a person of the highest
integrity and honesty ... You have
destroyed the career of a young
lawyer."
Madison was also given six
years probation and ordered to
pay $40,000 in restitution for the
money he took from the Piedmont
Judicial Circuit. The majority of
the funds were taken from Banks
County. Madison must also serve
one year in an alcohol treatment
program.
“This is a very tragic day for the
Piedmont Judicial Circuit... and for
a person who had a brilliant career
in the circuit and was well respect
ed by most everyone he came into
contact with," the judge said.
Mallis said he received many let
ters of support for Madison that
included “glowing statements on
your honesty and integrity."
Madison will turn himself into
the Banks County Jail at 9 a.m.
Saturday. The Georgia Department
of Corrections will determine
where Madison will be housed dur
ing his prison sentence. Officials
with the state have already dis
cussed placing Madison in a fed
eral prison for his safety.
Brett Williams and Linn Jones,
Madison’s wife, were also charged
in the case. Their court dates have
not been set.
Madison’s Comments
Before he was sentenced,
Madison addressed the court:
“I’m deeply sorry for what I’ve
done," Madison told the judge.
“I’m ashamed of what I’ve done ...
I’ve already surrendered my law
license. I was ready to commit
suicide. I was embarrassed. I was
ashamed. I’m at your mercy. I’m
very sorry that I did this."
During testimony from several
witnesses and from Madison him
self, a story of alcoholism, men
tal illness and a gambling addic
tion were revealed. Madison has
been treated for alcoholism-related
issues and has attended AA meet
ings since the mid-1990s, although
he had not been in treatment for
several years
“I was living a secret life,” Madison
said.
Eight Counts
Madison was charged in Banks
County with two theft charges, one
count of violation of oath of office,
four counts of false statements and
writings and one count of con
spiracy to defraud a political entity.
He was not charged in Jackson and
Barrow counties in exchange for
his plea in Banks County. However,
the restitution includes money
taken from the other counties.
Three of the criminal counts
against Madison dealt with his
scheme to bill Banks County for
a full-time salary for Williams, who
was already being paid a full-time
salary from the state. The money
from Banks County was paid to
Williams, who then passed it on to
Madison.
Madison put the money into a per
sonal checking account and used it
for a variety of things, including
purchasing a $7,000 motorcycle.
The other counts against Madison
center around the falsification of
time cards for his wife, Linn Jones,
who was employed to work 20
hours a week in Banks County
and 40 hours a week in Jackson
County. Several time cards she sub
mitted were for time when she was
out of the county, including a trip
to a casino cruise ship based out
of Brunswick and a visit to San
Diego, CA
Long Day Of Testimony
The sentencing hearing got under
way Tuesday in Banks County
Superior Court with three witness
es called by prosecutors.
Banks County Board of
Commissioners chairman Gene
Hart, Banks County Sheriff Charles
Chapman and former Piedmont
Judicial Circuit chief assistant dis
trict attorney Allison Mauldin testi
fied on the impact of the crime.
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Former Piedmont Circuit district attorney Tim Tuesday at his sentencing hearing in Banks
Madison, center, takes notes during testimony County. He will serve six years in prison.
Hart said the actions caused
his staff to lose their respect for
the office of district attorney. He
said they also now more closely
monitor and question any financial
issues dealing with the office.
Chapman said the theft caused a
lot of distrust for everyone in the
law enforcement community.
“In the minds of many people, it
cast suspicions that we might be
guilty of the same thing," he said.
Mauldin, who was very emotional
during her testimony, said she was
shocked and disappointed when
the charges against Madison were
reported.
“It was shocking," she said. “We
read about it in the paper like
everyone else. No one wanted to
believe it. It was devastating to the
morale in the office ... There is an
embarrassment factor. There is a
cloud of suspicion that we should
have known, or that we were
involved... It completely destroyed
the office."
17 Defense Witnesses
Madison’s lawyer Ed Tolley
called 17 witnesses, including long
time friends, family members,
Alcoholics Anonymous support
ers and people who worked with
Madison on domestic violence
issues.
Family and friends testified about
long-standing family issues dealing
with mental illness and alcoholism.
They also testified about Madison’s
own struggles with alcoholism and
how it “clouds your entire think
ing.”
“He had an erosion of morals
while he was under the influence of
alcohol," one friend testified.
Others who testified included a
doctor who has treated Madison
and the director of the alcohol
abuse center where he has been
living for the past three months.
At the alcohol treatment center,
Madison has been required to
have a full-time job. He worked for
Fieldale Farms for a while and now
works at an animal shelter where
he cleans out dog pens and takes
the animals for walks. He is also
required to go to group therapy
and individual counseling.
Members of the legal community
and directors of agencies Madison
worked with testified about his
“brilliance as a prosecutor" and his
work for domestic abuse victims.
“I never met a more formida
ble adversary," said long-time
Commerce attorney Greg Perry,
who faced Madison in court many
times over the past few decades.
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Jackson County Comprehensive
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School, Maysville Elementary
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The funds collected will be used
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training and competition, including
uniforms and transportation.
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