GBI investigating Turner Co. Sheriff

WorldNow and WALB, WALB NEWS10, walb.com
BYLINE: Stephanie Springer
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Turner County, GA



The Sheriff of Turner County is the target of a criminal investigation.

WALB News 10 has learned that Sheriff Roy Wiley is being investigating for possibly removing a large amount of marijuana from his crime evidence room and giving it to a cancer patient.

The GBI confirms the investigation was launched July 8th.

As word of this investigation spreads, Sheriff Wiley, who took office in 2008, is nowhere to be found.

Sheriff Roy Wiley has a lot of friends and supporters in Turner County. "So far he has been a good Sheriff, he has always been good to us," said Rick Mulvey.

"He's a very popular fellow, good guy, good fellow," said John Holland.

"As far as I've been concerned he's been a great sheriff, he's fair and decent to everyone," said Billy Jordan.

But the town is now buzzing about a criminal investigation into Wiley's actions. WALB News 10 is told that Sheriff Wiley instructed one of his officers to remove a large amount of marijuana from the criminal evidence room so he could give it to a friend with cancer.

The GBI won't confirm that, but they do acknowledge they are investigating Wiley.

"It is shocking, I've been knowing this man all my life," said Jordan.

County officials we spoke with today say they are not aware of the investigation. "I have not been contacted by any law enforcement of investigative agency about it," said Holland.

We also attempted to contact Sheriff Wiley himself, but we were told he's out of town at a Sheriff's conference. WALB News 10 has learned that the Sheriff's Conference ended Wednesday and we've not been able to reach Sheriff Wiley.

"I hope that whatever this is works out for him because he is a popular and good sheriff for Turner county," said Holland.

"You can't base your opinion by what you hear in the streets, if he is under investigation I'm quite sure the GBI will do their job," said Jordan.

"He's our friend and he's our sheriff and until he is proven guilty I'm not going to believe anything I hear," said Mulvey.

Wiley was elected Sheriff in 2008, previously he was the Police chief in Sycamore.

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