ATLANTA (AP) – Georgia’s governor on Monday suspended a sheriff who faces charges including sexual battery after a drug search at a high school earlier this year.
In an executive order, Gov. Nathan Deal suspended Worth County Sheriff Jeff Hobby pending the final outcome of his case or the expiration of his term of office, whichever comes first.
A grand jury last month indicted Hobby and two deputies in connection with a search at Worth County High School in Sylvester, about 170 miles (274 kilometers) south of Atlanta. Hobby faces two counts of false imprisonment, one count of sexual battery and a charge of violating his oath of office.
Hobby did not immediately respond to a phone message left at the sheriff’s office Monday. His lawyer Norman Crowe Jr. did not immediately respond to an email or phone message. Crowe has previously said that Hobby’s position is that he did nothing criminal.
Hobby violated his oath of office by ordering his deputies to search students at the high school “without probable cause or any other legal basis and without due process” in violation of the U.S. Constitution and the Georgia Constitution, the indictment says.