ALMA — A 58-year-old Alma man working as a bailiff at the Coffee County Courthouse was arrested and charged with Aggravated Sexual Battery by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Coffee County Deputy Sheriff Tony Kirkland, who had worked previously with the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office, was officially charged Tuesday, January 17 stemming from an incident which occurred between September 30, 2022, and October 1, 2022 at his residence in Alma, according to a press release from the GBI.
The Bacon County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI Region 4 Douglas Office to conduct a sexual assault investigation December 9, 2022 because of Kirkland’s past work history with the BCSO and Sheriff Andy Batten. He had voluntarily resigned from the sheriff’s office in October 2021 due to medical reasons.
Kirkland, who was on paid suspension from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office during the investigation, was terminated January 13, 2023 by Sheriff Doyle Wooten after he learned the deputy would be arrested and charged on one count of Aggravated Sexual Battery.
“He was immediately suspended with pay while the GBI continued its investigation,” said Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Fred Cole. “Sheriff Doyle Wooten was notified December 23, 2022 Deputy Kirkland was the subject of an investigation into an alleged sexual assault that had occurred in Bacon County.
“Sheriff Wooten was advised January 13, 2023 by GBI officials Deputy Kirkland would be charged and arrested on one count of aggravated sexual battery. Kirkland was immediately terminated from his position with the Coffee County Sheriff's Office on sexually-related felony charges. He had been employed with the CCSO since March of 2022.”
GBI officials ask that anyone with information regarding the case is encouraged to contact the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office at (912) 632-8515 or the GBI Region 4 Douglas Office at (912) 389-4103. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597 (TIPS), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
