by Al Summers
News Editor
alsummers@timescourier.com
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At the conclusion of a special session by the latest Gilmer County Grand Jury last Friday, Jan. 16, grand jurors deemed there was not enough evidence to indict three former employees at the Gilmer County Detention Center and a former East Ellijay police officer in connection with an alleged beating at the facility July 16 and July 17, 2003.
Grand jurors “no billed” the charges against the defendants, Capt. Kirk Champion, detention officers Jason Watkins and Mark Phillip Wade, and East Ellijay Police Officer Mark Herndon.
Of the 41 counts presented to grand jurors, Champion was named in 26 counts, 20 of those counts being cruelty to inmates, three counts of false statement, and three counts of violation of oath of office.
Watkins was named in 13 counts, 12 of those being simple battery and one count of violation of oath of office. Herndon was named in seven counts of simple battery and one count of violation of oath of office.
Wade was named in one count of simple battery.
A total of 39 witnesses were listed in the indictment.
Victims listed in the indictment were Roy Queen, Jonathan Turner, Sherman Cornette, Jeffrey Colquitt, Danny L. Davis, Brandon Snellgroove, Joel Wood, and Brian Sidney Cathcart.
The complete list of indictments will appear in the Jan. 29 edition of the Times-Courier.