Former Ogelhtorpe County Sheriff William “Ray” Sanders is no longer looking at assault charges as a grand jury found there wasn’t enough evidence implicating him. His son in law, however, has been charged with assaulting a man on the incident that occurred May 15th of this year.
On May 15th, Sanders and his son in law “Winkie” Hill arrived at the home of Hill and his wife (Sanders’ daughter). The couple had been having difficulty and separated for a while. Upon their arrival at the home they encountered Steven Justin Griffith Sr. whom they suspected was selling drugs to Mrs. Hill.
A fight ensued which landed Griffith in the hospital with a concussion, broken nose, and facial lacerations. Hill now faces charges for the assault that Sanders’ was cleared of.
According to the Athens Banner-Herald, Sanders reportedly served as Sheriff until the age of 71 in the year 2000.
A grand jury hearing serves the same purpose as a commitment or preliminary hearing. It is to establish if there is probable cause to prove someone committed a crime. It does not establish guilt or innocence but merely determines if there is enough evidence for the case to even go to trial.
If the grand jury, or the judge in a preliminary hearing, determines enough probable cause is present the suspect is formally charged or indicted. This marks just one stage in the lengthy criminal courts process.
Not all criminal cases are entitled to a preliminary hearing or grand jury hearing. However, if it is appropriate, the hearing is optional. Deciding whether or not to have such a hearing is one of those things that should be discussed with your attorney.
Because a defense attorney should know the small nuances and particulars of the court system, you should be confident that you have chosen an attorney that will make decisions in the best interest of your case.
If you are facing charges like assault, possession of drugs, or theft, our attorneys are here to assist you. Contact our Georgia defense lawyers today to discuss the route your case might take within the Georgia court system and the options that are available to you.
Leave a Reply