The September Term of the Grand Jury heard the David Gibson Case on Thursday.
FORMER DEPUTY SHERIFF DAVID GIBSON .
WKEU has received information from a reliable source that the grand jury has indicted Gibson on all charges at least six additional charges that relate to violation of his oath of office.
WKEU NEWS had a chance to talk with District Attorney Scott Ballard about the indictments handed down on Thursday. Ballard said, “He stated “They returned an indictment and it is my understanding that there was a true bill indictment against him and if I am not mistaken there are between 12 and 14 true bill counts.”
We also asked the District Attorney if he thought the case will come before the Spalding Superior Court before the first of the year. DA Ballard stated “He was not sure when it will come up. The next opportunity is in October and I am certain it will not be up then. I will be surprised if it came up before the end of the year.”
With regard to the indictments we asked about the types of indictments that were given a true bill. . Ballard said “It is going to involve sexual batteries, regular battery, aggravated assault, and many violations of oath office.”
We also asked if there were additional indictments. Ballard said several of the counts were special presentments that were not part of the original warrants that were issued.
On September 10, 2015, GBI Agents from the Columbus Field Office arrested David Gibson, former Captain of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated sexual battery (two counts), influencing witnesses, stalking, public indecency, sexual battery, simple battery, and violation of oath of office. Gibson turned himself in at the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office and was held for a time at the Clayton County Jail.
The in initial request for the GBI investigation came from the District Attorney Scott Ballard with concurrence of Sheriff Wendell Beam. Sheriff Beam had given Ballard a copy of the original 340 page investigation that was done by an outside law enforcement agency at Sheriff Beam’s request. That investigation after a review by the District Attorney lead to the GBI investigation that resulted in the arrest of Gibson in September of 2015. The GDBI Investigation alleged Gibson had assaulted employees of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office. Additional victims, who were not a part of the internal affairs inquiry, came forward, and reported allegations of misconduct and criminal activity against Gibson.
When the findings of the GBI investigation were presented to DA Ballard, criminal warrants were obtained for Gibson’s arrest.
Due to the case load of the Spalding Superior Court it is believed that the Gibson case will not be called until next year. There are allegedly charges against Gibson also pending in Upson County for stalking and other charges. In addition there are civil cases that are pending in relation to The County, David Gibson, and Sheriff Beam that will be held in abeyance until after the criminal charges are addressed in Superior Court.
There had been delays in bringing the David Gibson Case before the Grand Jury for most of this Year. The delays were due to caseloads before the case could be presented before the Grand Jury on Thursday September 15th.