Sentencing hearing for DCSO deputies moved to unknown date
Published 10:24 am Monday, December 28, 2015
The sentencing hearing for three Decatur County Sheriff’s Office deputies originally scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 29, has been labeled as “Continued” according to a U.S. District Court docket report.
The U.S. District Court in Albany confirmed this morning that the sentencing hearing will not be held Tuesday and has been moved to an undisclosed date “due to court emergency,” according to the report.
U.S. District Court Judge W. Louis Sands issued the order last Saturday, Dec. 26.
Elizabeth Croley, Christopher Kines and Robert Wade Umbach were convicted in June after they were charged multiple counts related to an incident at Bikefest 2012.
After an altercation with civilian Ronnie Aaron Parrish and a subsequent cover up, the deputies were brought before Sands for a two-week trial. Former Grady County Sheriff’s Office deputy Wiley Griffin, IV was acquitted of his charge of Deprivation of Rights Under the Color of Law.
Former DCSO captain Liz Croley was found guilty on two counts: Deprivation of Rights Under the Color of Law and False Reporting. The jury’s verdict was that Croley deprived Parrish’s rights to a fair criminal trial for his conduct at Bikefest by writing false reports.
Former DCSO deputy Robert Wade Umbach was found not guilty for False Reports, but found guilty for Tampering With Witness Evidence. Umbach was involved in the altercation with Parrish, but reported false information to FBI special agent Steve McDermott about Griffin, IV’s, involvement with Parrish.
Former DCSO deputy Christopher Kines was also charged with the same counts as Umbach. He was found not guilty for False Reports but found guilty for Tampering With Witness Evidence for the same reasons as Umbach.