Bad Links?
Other glitches?
Notify Webmaster

New venue sought

Ballard’s former employee charged with forgery, theft

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

A former secretary accused of defrauding her bosses out of thousands has asked a judge to move her trial to another county.

Gayla L. Johnson, the Sharpsburg resident accused of the crime, told the court that since one of bosses is new district attorney Scott Ballard, she fears she won’t get a fair trial.

Ballard and his father, Charles, ran a law firm together on the square in Fayetteville prior to Scott Ballard’s election in November of 2004. The firm still exists, under Charles Ballard’s sole direction.

The Grand Jury indicted Johnson Sept. 15, 2004, on one count of theft by taking and 17 counts of first-degree forgery. The case was expected to be heard during the March term of the Fayette County Superior Court, but the case remains in limbo until a judge decides how to proceed.

A court date has not been set and the judge will not be assigned until a court date is set, court officials said.

Attorney Ricky Morris of the Stockbridge-based Sexton & Morris filed the request for a change of venue with the court.

“Johnson cannot receive a fair trial in this venue,” the document states. “Fayette County spoke when they elected Scott Ballard district attorney. Their vote announced two distinct premises: that they know Scott Ballard and that they trust his judgement.”

It’s unclear if the change of venue will be granted in lieu of the fact that special prosecutor Bill Dixon of Jonesboro has been tapped to try the case.