The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current, March 05, 2008, Image 2

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The Banks County news., March 05, 2008, Image 2

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Newspaper Page TextPAGE 2A THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2008 COURT SCENE ON TUESDAY Banks County Board of Commissioners chairman Gene Hart (L) took the stand Tuesday during the court hearing for former district attorney Tim Madison. Madison was sentenced to six years in jail. Photo compilation by April Reese Sorrow Madison continued from page 1A majority of the funds were taken from Banks County. Madison must also serve one year in an alcohol treatment program. The state sought an eight-year sentence for Madison, in addi tion to probation and restitution. Madison’s attorneys asked for no prison sentence. Instead, they asked for a two-year stay at an alcohol treatment center, such as the one he is currently living at, as well as community service and restitution. “This is a very tragic day for the Piedmont Judicial Circuit... and for a person who had a bril liant career in the circuit and was well respected by most everyone he came into contact with,” the judge said.” Mallis said he received many letters of support about 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 during his prison sen tence. Officials with the state have already discussed placing Madison in a federal prison for his own safety. Brett Williams and Linn Jones have also been charged in the case. Their court dates have not been set. Madison resigned last June as district attorney following a series of investigative newspaper articles published in The Jackson Herald, Jefferson. Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker subsequently launched an inves tigation into the DA’s office. That probe led to the theft indictments in Banks County last August. “Today’s sentencing will go a long way towards removing the tarnish from the judicial system in the Piedmont circuit,” said Baker. “The criminal actions of a few have cast a pall over many, but the prison sentence given MALLIS PRESIDES DeKalb County judge Robert Mallis presided over the sentenc ing of former district attorney Tim Madison. The senior judge was selected after the judges in the Piedmont Judicial Circuit recused themselves from the case. Photos by April Reese Sorrow BANKS SHERIFF TESTIFIES Banks County Sheriff Charles Chapman testified at the sen tencing hearing of former dis trict attorney, Tim Madison, Tuesday in Homer. to Madison today reflects that the corruption was attributable to individuals, not the entire sys tem.” Prosecution of this case was handled by Senior Assistant Attorneys General David McLaughlin and Kimberly Schwartz. The investigation was handled by Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John Cagle and Special Agent Brian Whidby. MADISON 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 sever al witnesses and from Madison himself, a story of alcoholism, mental illness and a gambling addiction was revealed. Madison has been treated for alcoholism related issues and has attend ed AA meetings since the mid- 1990s, although he had not been in treatment for several years “I was living a secret life,” Madison said. EIGHT COUNTS AGAINST MADISON Madison was charged in Banks County for two felony theft charges, one felony count of vio lation of oath of office, four felo ny counts of false statements and writings and one felony count of conspiracy 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 personal checking account and used it for a variety of things, including purchasing a $7,000 motorcycle. The other counts against Madison center around the falsi fying 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 submitted were for time when she was out of the county, including a trip to a casino cruise ship based out of Brunswick, Ga., and a visit to San Diego, Calif. LONG DAY OF TESTIMONY The sentencing hearing got under way Tuesday in Banks County Superior Court with three witnesses called by prosecutors. Banks County Board of Commissioners chairman Gene Hart, Banks County Sheriff Charles Chapman and former Piedmont Judicial Circuit chief assistant district attorney Allison t]N|.y ft'Jh sru/JM. i f' ftl | l ■ hHIL F<piily, ^.-Wiinp Says Thanks tor 10 Great Years Wo OpcTKd In Mtirch 1998. So Each Week in M sncIi ^008 Wc Will Have A Different "HT Special lb Say Thank You This Week - Sessions Before Marini 11 ft Will tkt 10 F'Rh-H 4*5’ s Added to Your Order You IVlusl MviilRul 7fie Spouuil Wlnm Sou Sd.ikJi.Lc your Scssmi] APacwidisMuil Ifc CViipLlwf tyy A|il ll 2, Jl.tH tv*Vl In.-, .ill p'rrirplKiln :vim Don't Miss Oul Call 770-71K-19(H) Today!’!’ $5 00 OFF Ticket Of $20° 0 Or More. Valid with coupon Mon.-Thurs. only. of Commerce La Hacienda Commerce La Hacienda Jefferson 173 Steven B. Tanger Blvd. 605 Athens Street 706-335-7458 706-367-5095 The Original Mexican Restaurant! Not affiliated with any other restaurant. Keep Banks beautiful! NOW ACCEPTING PATIENTS Hours: Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Leslie M Puts, DMD Pediatric 'Dentistry 706-335-7793 215 Mercer Place, P. O. Box 1241 Commerce, GA 30529 Website: drlpitts.com Email: drlpitts@drlpitts.com The only local GM dealer offering Saturday Service TRANSMISSION SERVICE • Replace Pan Gasket • Replace Filter • New Fluid • Oil Change, Lube & Filter $129 95 For Most Vehicles Home of the $14.95 Oil Change Wednesday Only Senior Citizen $12.95 Oil Change 10 % Off All Other Repairs Hwy. 441 in Commerce 706-335-3196 800-798-7435 www.wayneneal.com SERVICE HOURS: M-F 7:30-6:00 • Sat. 8:00-4:00 Mauldin testified on the impact of the crime. Hart said the actions caused his staff to lose their respect for the office of district attorney. He said they also now more closely mon itor 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 emo tional during her testimony, said she was shocked and disap pointed when the charges against Madison were reported. “It was shocking,” she said. “We read about it in the paper like everyone else. No one want ed to believe it. It was devastat ing to the morale in the office. There is an embarrassment fac tor. There is a cloud of suspicion that we should have known, or that we were involved. It com pletely destroyed the office.” WITNESSES CALLED BY DEFENSE Madison’s lawyer Ed Tolley called 17 witnesses, including long-time friends, family mem bers, Alcoholics Anonymous sup porters and people who worked with Madison on domestic vio- lence issues. Family and friends testified about long-standing family issues dealing with mental ill ness 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 commu nity and directors of agencies Madison worked with testified about his “brilliance as a prose cutor” and his work for domestic abuse victims. “I never met a more formi dable adversary,” said long-time Commerce attorney Greg Perry, who faced Madison in court many times over the past few decades. Banks-Jackson Risk Reduction DTJI SCHOOL 336-6777 DEFENSIVE DRIVING 1728 North Broad Street, Commerce, State Certified 5010 and 2007 Next DUI Class begins on March 15, 2008 Next Defensive Driving Class will be held on Fareha Rahim, MD Internal Medicine We are now located at our new office 613 Hospital Road Commerce, Georgia 30529 Commerce Medical Center 706-335-9411 \^MCH,MCD,BC/BS,CIGNARHMO/PPO)AMERIGROUPAARP:UH^JJ City of Maysville Notice of Property Tax Increase/Decrease The City of Maysville has proposed the adoption of a millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by 14.08% for Banks County residents living in Maysville, and a reduction in property taxes of 14.59% for Jackson County residents living in Maysville. These changes are due to differences in sales taxes received. The gross millage rate will remain unchanged. The net millage rate is based upon the amount of reduction from sales taxes. All concerned citizens are invited to public hearings on this tax increase/decrease to be held at Maysville Library at 6:00 P.M. on March 13, 2008, and March 20, 2008, and at 6:30 P.M. on March 24, 2008. The Maysville City Council plans to consider final adoption of the millage rates at a special called meeting to be held at the Maysville Library at 7:00 P.M. on March 24, 2008.