By BECKY CRISSMAN
becky.crissman@gaflnews.com
DOOLY CO. — Ariebell (Dana) Barron, wife of County Commissioner David Barron will appear in court here Monday. She goes on trial for multiple counts of voter fraud.
Also scheduled for trial is Eddie Daniels, mayor pro tem for the City of Vienna.
Unadilla City Councilmen Dexter Whittaker and Tony Lester, a former councilman in that city, Bobby West, former Unadilla City Administrator Ronnie Brand and former Unadilla Police Chief Leonard Smith who originally were scheduled for trial next week, have been granted a continuance. Their cases probably will come before the Superior Court in January of 2009.
Barron was indicted in October of 2007 on 25 counts involving voter fraud during the 2006 county commission race in which her husband defeated the incumbent, Wayne West for the District 5 seat.
Of those indictments, four are for inserting a fraudulent entry into a voter’s certification or ballot. Nine of the counts are for unlawful possession of ballots and eleven are for fraudulent application for absent ballot.
Barron is accused of fraudulently applying for absentee ballots in the names of several elderly people in a nursing home without possessing the proper degree of kinship required by state statute.
She is further accused of inserting a fraudulent entry on the ballots by signing the person’s name to ballots voting for her husband. Barron is also charged with being in possession of those ballots outside the polling place and not being an officer charged by law with the care of ballots and ballot cards.
Daniels was indicted in July of this year for insurance fraud, making false statements, and theft by deception.
The city official allegedly provided false information to a law enforcement officer regarding the circumstances surrounding a traffic collision involving his green Honda Civic in February 2005.
It is alleged that Daniels told Officer John Mathis of the Vienna Police Department that he was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the accident, when he, in fact, was not the driver.
He is further accused of making a false representation of a material fact by filing a claim for the purpose of procuring payment for the vehicle from the insurance company, Nationwide Insurance. Then on or about April 1, 2005 he received a payment from the insurance company for the vehicle.
Present and former Unadilla city officials and employees were charged with fiduciary theft by taking for allegedly misappropriating city funds by giving Smith a ‘personal loan’ which was not authorized by law.
Whittaker, Lester and West each also face charges for violation of oath by a public officer and violation of the Georgia open meetings act, while Whittaker and Smith face an additional charge of conspiracy to defraud a political subdivision.
Another former councilman, Jeffrey Minor was charged with the same offenses as Whittaker, Lester and West, but he has already accepted a plea and has been sentenced by Judge Robert Chasteen to one year probation. He also will be ordered to pay a fine.
Local news
Dooly trials set to begin on Monday
- Local news
-
-
$750,000 worth of pot seized in Wilcox County
ROCHELLE — Authorities were continuing their search Saturday for the owner of a home where more than 150 marijuana plants with an astonishing street value of $750,000 were seized on Thursday.
-
Faith Christian graduates four
VIENNA - Four young adults received their high school diplomas from Faith Christian School here Thursday night. Guest speaker for the event was Rev. John Dent, pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Americus.
-
69 Wilcox grads receive diplomas
ROCHELLE — It was an emotional morning Saturday in the gym of Wilcox County High School as the 69 members of the graduating class received diplomas.
-
Fullington graduates get their diplomas
PINEHURST - "It is my prayer for each of you that in the face of adversity and defeat, you know who you are and what you stand for," Fullington Academy valedictorian Taylor Faircloth challenged her fellow graduates during commencement exercises in the school gym Friday night.
-
International Lions visit local club
Lion K.P. Prajapati and Lion Kokilaben Prajapati of Gandhinagar, India recently attended a Cordele Lions Club meeting.
-
Mayor warns cemetery vandals
Council members here handled a short agenda Monday night taking action on only two items of business.
-
City discusses taxes, litter
During its monthly work session Tuesday, City Commissioners heard a presentation on Local Option Sales Tax presented by Barry Hall with Governmental Enterprises.
-
Deputy makes arrest
A routine traffic stop here led to two arrests and the seizure of over $91,000 in fraudulent checks.
-
Sen. Hooks retiring
State Senator George Hooks (D-Americus) announced this week that he will not seek a 17th term in the Georgia legislature.
-
Online voter registration will be available
Online voter registration soon will be available to all Georgia citizens.
- More Local news Headlines
-
$750,000 worth of pot seized in Wilcox County
Robin Gibb of Bee Gees Dies at 62
Protesters, Police Clash at NATO Summit
Raw Video: NATO Protesters Face-off With Police
Libyan Convicted in Lockerbie Bombing Is Dead
NATO Chief: 'No Rush for Exits' in Afghanistan.
Obama Pushes for Post-2014 Vision for Afghanista
Raw Video: Demonstrations Ahead of NATO Summit
Raw Video: Powerful Quake in Northern Italy
G-8 Seeks Unity on Euro-debt Crisis, Iran
Mary Kennedy Mourned at Private Funeral in NY
Prosecutors: Trio Planned to Attack Obama's HQ
Blind Chinese Activist Arrives in NY
G-8 Leaders Hope Greece Remains in Eurozone
SpaceX President: 'This Is Not Failure'
Blind Chinese Activist Leaves for US
Raw Video: Obama Greets Leaders at Camp David
Big Job: G-8 Tackles Euro Crisis
Raw Video: SpaceX Rocket Launch Aborted in Fla.
Video Surfaces of Alleged Abuse at Kansas School
Verizon to End Unlimited Data Plans
