HARTWELL, GA - On Monday, September 13, 2010, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested Hart County Deputy David Luther Brown, 46, on two (2) counts of VGCSA – Possession of a Schedule II drug.  Later, on Wednesday September 15, 2010, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested Hart County Deputy Robert (“Bob”) Hughes, 48, for one (1) count of VGCSA – Possession of a Schedule II drug with the Intent to Distribute.  Both of these arrests resulted from an investigation involving a quantity of prescription pills (Schedule II narcotics) that had been misappropriated after they were turned over to the Hart county Sheriff’s office. The GBI investigation was conducted at the request of Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland on Monday September 13, 2010. Both subjects were processed and bonded out of the Hart county jail shortly after their respective arrests.

Later, during the late evening hours of September 15, 2010, Robert Hughes died as a result of a single gunshot wound that was incurred at his residence in Hartwell. Sheriff Cleveland requested the GBI to investigate the shooting. Investigation is continuing but there is no evidence of foul play at this time.

On Monday, August 23, 2010, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested Hart County dispatcher Chastity Ann Beck, 30, for one count of Criminal Liability and Penalties for Crimes of Computer Invasion of Privacy.  Hart County Sheriff’s dispatcher Kayla Norris, 22, was arrested on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 for the same charge.  Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland had previously requested the GBI investigate allegations of employees inappropriately obtaining information from vehicle tag and registration information.

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Contact Information:

Special Agent in Charge Jim Fullington - (706) 552-2309; Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland - (706) 376-3114