Freeman v. State

Deen, Presiding Judge.

Appellant, James C. Freeman, was Sheriff of Spalding County from 1981-1984. When he sought reelection, he was defeated by Richard Cantrell, a former deputy. After the new sheriff took office, he asked the GBI to investigate “possible improprieties” at the Sheriff’s Department. As a result, charges were brought before the grand jury which returned six indictments against Freeman, each containing multiple counts. The indictments alleged either theft by taking or violation of oath by a public officer. Appellant’s wife, who was his secretary during a portion of his tenure as…