Becky Holland
AMERICUS — AMERICUS — As reported in Wednesday’s edition of the Times-Recorder, an employee of Sumter County was arrested by special agents from the local Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Region III Americus office, and transported by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office to the Sumter County Law Enforcement Center.
James C. Cooper, 24, of 175-F Beauchamp Road, Smithville was charged with “violation of oath by a public officer” after agents found through an investigation initiated after a request from District Attorney Plez Hardin (Southwestern Judicial Circuit). Allegations had been made concerning possible misconduct by Cooper, who had been employed as a correctional officer for approximately five years. At the time of his arrest, Cooper was permanently assigned as a Sumter County employee with the Public Works’ department, and temporarily assigned to supervising an inmate construction detail at the Sumter County Parks and Recreation Department new community center (Columns at Boone Park).
According to Assistant Special Agent in Charge Trevor Randall of the GBI Americus office, Cooper had been suspected of transporting “contraband across guard lines at the Sumter County Correctional Institute.”
Randall stated that a search warrant had been executed at Cooper’s residence during the investigation which led toward his arrest. The investigation is ongoing and more charges may be forthcoming.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the offices of the GBI at 931-2439.
