@bomberdawg: Look at the evidence yourself and let me know if this was a crime? Minor wrongdoing? Or nothing wrong done at all?

legalese1115 :

As a fellow criminal defense attorney, but up here in Missouri, I have a few comments: 1) I was incredulous until I saw the picture of the actual truck compared to the picture posted on the auction site. That’s a tough one to explain away. 2) The fact he didn’t disclose he would be bidding doesn’t excite me much. A simple explanation would be he didn’t want to appear like he was putting pressure on the deputies administering the auction. So, unless there’s some regulation prohibiting it, it isn’t necessarily unreasonable not to disclose that. A better practice might have been assigning the task to someone else in his office. 3) Out of the offenses you mentioned, I think the only one (generally speaking, I did not review the GA criminal code) that might fit would be wire fraud. I think any type of theft, conversion, etc. would be tough because, while it sounds like he got a good deal, it amounted to a few thousand dollars. While one can assume the winning bid would have been higher with an accurate picture, that doesn’t amount to much more than speculation. I don’t think any sort of theft of honest services would apply because the truck wasn’t purchased with tax dollars or public debt. 4) Buyer beware certainly applies as motor vehicles are auctioned without warranties or guarantees and as is, but that’s usually related to sellers minimizing issues that would devalue the asset in order to maximize the bidding price. However, that begs the question whether the losing bidders might have causes of action. It strikes me they might have causes of action for fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent merchandising practices (I assume GA has something like this), or even a quasi contract action based upon bad faith and unfair dealing. 5) I know our Judicial oversight agency up here is cracking down the past year like they never have. Not sure if GA’s is as well. But, it strikes me he ought to have, at a bare minimum, a lot to explain to GA’s judicial oversight agency and, I think the GA Bar. I’m not sure how the picture could be interpreted as anything other than bad faith, unfair dealing, and dishonesty. That would violate both judicial cannons… 1/2

Woosman :

as a former state employee we were always told we could not bid on state surplus equipment, and especially if it came from our agency

Em :

Agree. Great analysis. He was at least unethical and maybe criminal.

Flossie :

Even if it is not criminal, it is unethical. I don’t think anyone can trust an unethical lawyer

jrobzero :

What about False Statements and Writing?

user9314988089229 :

They also refer to single counties as Circuits, like Cobb and Douglas. Doesn’t need to be multiple counties.

Billdan63 :

Get to the point Megan

Pink1984 :

Glued to the story

user5536668399113 :

wrong

Peggy Young :

Happy Birthday

bonnierogers68 :

So crooked

Laura… :

legalese1115 :

@legalese1115: And rules of professional responsibility in dealing with non-lawyers in business transactions. Also, for both, the appearance of impropriety and engaging in acts which bring both the bench and the bar in disrepute. I’d be surprised to see any criminal or regulatory action taken given the arguably de minimis deal he got. But, I would think his judicial office would certainly be in jeopardy and his ability to practice law might be subject to a bit of an involuntary sabbatical. 2/2

dianetaunton :

How can the primary driver of a vehicle submit pictures of a different vehicle and not be aware???? What would happen to a layperson if they were to do the same thing?

Jan Pressley Siskey :

We don’t need a another fear in office. We got one in two.

teacher_yuli2 :

There was the intent to deceive. It was absolutely underhanded in numerous ways.

user9073742732686 :

nothing will happen to him, maybe a promotion

Sheri :

Minor wrong doing

toopoorforcrossfit :

Seems like fraud

bluesolo :

@bluesolo: What happened to the DA that was involved in the Ahmad Arbrey case in Brunswick? You never reported on that case.