He can't step down because all the Chamber Hacks and Developers that put him in won't let him. He has to finish "taking care of business." In the meantime they are stroking him and loving.

One way to beat the Bypass. Require a blood and urine screen before the next Commission meeting. You may not even have a quorom !

Okay, that was a Mr.Pibb-out-the-nose moment.

Is this some kind of idiotic justification for Horan to remain.....If it is then the county is in deep trouble....Horan sets such a good example for the kids in Fayette county schools.....

Oh, let's add lying to a police officer (about the hidden dope) and attempt to bribe a police officer to fix/drop the charges (read the last section of the report).

I think the DA should look very closely at this whole traffic stop and add to the existing charges. Horgan, you can also tell us where/who you bought the pot from. What a loser this man is. Resign now, and if you don't, FORCE him off the Commission seat.

The Deputy did no wrong....All he is supposed to do interdict and apprehend. The DA can still charge him with overdue library books. The Deputy did his job.

The police report said they smelt marijuana, they did not see him smoke it.

He admitted it was his and indicated where it was located in his vehicle......Possesion has nothing to do with ingestion....and your point is?.....

Smelt is a fish. I believe the word you are looking for is smelled.

which I used to catch on the west coast.
-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Save Fayette, are you claiming that the arresting officer made no attempt to confirm the presence of THC in Mr. Horgan's blood or urine?

If that is the case and Mr. Horgan wasn't tested, as any other person would have been, then the arresting officer should be investigated by the GBI.

Indeed, if Mr. Horgan wasn’t tested then we really do have story with some legs.

Remember the PTC cops arresting and charging the city manager a while back?

I support the actions of the arresting officer and think that the call for a GBI investigation is really stupid. It's pretty nice to be able to sit at home behind your computer and make decisions and recommendations about someone who's out there on the job. Be thankful for the support and protection you get from your FCSO.

"When the deputy approached the truck, he noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and it appeared that Horgan had been smoking in the truck, Hannah said."

"Horgan told the deputy where the marijuana was located and consented to a search of the vehicle, Hannah said. The deputy found the marijuana right where Horgan had said it was, Hannah said. It was less than one ounce, the sheriff said, making the charge a misdemeanor."

What part of the above don't you understand?

Let me make a couple of comments in order to clear up any confusion you may have about this case.

1- For the police officer and for the State, DUIs are some of the most difficult cases to try. It is even harder to convict someone of a DUI if you did not observe them commiting a moving violation. Speeding, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, failure to stop at a stop sign, or disobeying a traffic control device are typical moving violations which accompany DUI charges.
A lack of a moving violation complicates the matter.
Just a reminder- having an intoxicant in your body does not automatically mean you are "under the influence." That is why with alcohol we have to show a presence of at least 0.08 grams (usually 2-4 drinks). A marijuana drug test does not indicate the concentration level. It mearly shows a presence within the body.

2- There exists something called officer discretion. If the officer does not feel comfortable about arresting a person, then the officer cannot be forced to make that arrest. That is why in Georgia we have statute of limitation laws which gives us the power to review a case and discuss it with a judge or DA before going back and issuing an arrest warrant. To say that the officer should be investigated by the GBI is ignorant and reckless!
If the DA wants to charge him with DUI, then he will if he thinks the case is strong enough to push ahead. But don't demand that an officer make an arrest unless he or she is 100% comfortable with it.
Many people don't realize that we can go to jail and be sued in civil court for making a bad arrest!

Honor and integrity are not antiquated. He is an idiot and should be removed due to extraordinary arrogance and stupidity. What a deadly combination. If he is a real man, he will RESIGN.

No one entering into the political arena can be this naive! You know from the beginning that you'll be held to a higher standard than the ordinary citizen. If you can't curtail your vices for the time you're in office and you get caught, you need to do the right thing and resign.

What would Jesus think, Preacher Woman?

Y'all sound so "holier than thou" blogging about Horgan. I'll bet most adults on here have had a drink or two and mistakenly driven home when they shouldn't have. Quit persecuting this guy and throwing hypocritical stones at him. He made a mistake, apologized and most likely learned a very difficult lesson that is being played out in public now.

I just love your words, Preacher Woman: "It's a sad day when "I'm sorry" is used as a substitute for doing the right thing!"

Kinda like those pedophile priests saying they're sorry after diddling grade schoolers. I'm just wondering which crime you think is worse? That, or smoking a joint?

Pastor Jimmy Swaggart: " I have SINNED against you Lord (sobbing), and against my wife..." then he gets caught with another hooker within six months if I remember correctly.

Another thing: I was always taught that a true Christian doesn't bother fooling around with worldly politics since Satan controls all the nations of the world at this time, and no matter what any human does it cannot be fixed by them.

Just a thought...

In Liberty,

DarthDubious

that he should stay in office? By extension, if you are okay with his criminal activity, are you okay with those hated priests? I doubt it, but I felt the need to ask.

For the record in my opinion, the priests were worse. Although many had criminal charges and the church is still dealing with the legal stuff around this, are you stating that their apologies are good enough for you? Is Horgan's good enough for you? Keep him in office? allow him to make decisions concerning the bypass, even if his dealer is blackmailing him to vote a certain way? Do you think that this scenario can't happen?
In your world do we criminalize the catholic church and decriminalize marijuana?

You are being way too reasonable and level headed for this conversation...

And yes, this guy will not be reelected, nor will I be voting him.

The only reason I think he should resign is if county policy dictates mandatory dismissal of county employees for this type of behavior

"Based on the current science base, the following conditions continue to merit further study on the potential medical utility of marijuana. In some cases, advantage may be taken of multiple pharmacologic effects of cannabinoids. Conditions for which continued research into the potential therapeutic effects include:

HIV-infected patients with cachexia, neuropathy, or chronic pain, or who are suffering adverse effects from medication, such as nausea, vomiting, and peripheral neuropathy, that impede compliance with antiretroviral therapy;
Patients undergoing chemotherapy, especially those being treated for mucositis, nausea, and anorexia, and those patients who do not obtain adequate relief from either acute or delayed emetic episodes from standard therapy;
To potentiate the analgesic effects of opioids and to reduce their emetic effects in the treatment of postoperative, traumatic, or cancer pain;
Patients suffering from spasticity or pain due to spinal cord injury, or neuropathic or central pain syndromes; and
Patients with chronic pain and insomnia."

The AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION can't even deny the medicinal properties of marijuana. Get over it. Mr. Horgan is going to pay a hefty price, personally. The court of public opinion is severe. Giambi and Pettite admitted using steroids, and were forgiven. Bonds and Clemens denied it, and are being crucified. The guy admitted his mistake. He is working to heal the wounds. Submit them to random drug testing if you NEED to know if your elected officials are smoking marijuana. Just know that most of the country has at least tried it. Maybe Mr. Horgan has insomnia from laying awake at night worrying about his constituency.

But not while they were in office. Another poster made a very vaild point. In the code of conduct of a government workplace, this would be cause for dismissal.

That is good reporting and speaks volume: READ: "Resident Pat Hinchey said he has a hard time raising children to make the right decisions in life when rock stars have transgressions without onsequences. “And in my own back yard, there are no consequences once again. This is a very difficult thing to swallow,” Henchy said."

From a recent President's debauchery in the Oval Office and perjury, followed by our own Fayette County official's flaunting of the alcohol, drug and motor vehicle laws, our children have reason to ask "Why should I follow the rule? I can get out of it." I fear that my "Greatest Generation" has raised America's worst generation.

Fondly,

Mrs. Fran Sheldon

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FUN

He broke the law and also broke the county's ehtics ordinance. He has broken ethics before and thinks he is above the law. He has been fined by the Ethics Commission and has not paid the fine - just like he did not buy a tag. He needs to go. If he does not resign, he will be forced out and make a bigger fool of himself. There are precedures in place to take care of blatant jerks like him. They will be used.

for sure. I was born in 1963...I'm not a pot smoker. That said, my parents think that this stuff is the creation of the devil. You can't even talk to them about it being legal without them going bonkers. All the while, they are having a nice Wild Turkey on the rocks.

I guess it's all a matter of choice for one's inebriant. What is legal today at another time wasn't. I've always been of the mindset of anything in moderation. That said, while I like Wild Turkey, I personally prefer Marker's Mark! Cheers!

"No one is fit to represent"? what kind of statement is that? I want elected officials to make lawful decisions. Since these people are making decisions that could affect how I live, I want them to live as if they are willingly subjected to the law. They are the ones deciding actions such as eminent domain, or zoning laws and enforcement. I do not want Commissioners who engage in illegal activity and then tell me to be lawful, or put themselves in a position to be blackmailed. Demand more than what we are getting from our elected officials - and of yourself.

The unfair to represent comment refers to the fact that most everyone here thinks Mr. Horgan shouldn't be a commissioner anymore, step down, be a man, he doesn't represent us.

Well, if the only thing he did is break a law, not harm anyone else, how is he so much worse than every single other commissioner that has broken the speed limit. A speeder by your definition is no more fit to represent than Mr. Horgan, if it really is just about being lawful.

Mr. Horgan obviously is not some sort of pothead and is consumed with the substance. He owns what appears to be a successful business and is a county commissioner. He is not some doped up loser.

Again, what makes this guy worse than a commissioner who has broken any other random law that didn't harm any one, and has occasionally indulged in a few drinks? Its time we move away from the uneducated assumptions about marijuana.

before I would vote for a guy who engaged in a criminal enterprise to get his criminal fix. They are not an apple to apple comparison. Do you want to be consistent in your thoughts? Then go out and shoot a peregrine falcon for dinner tonight. Sure it is illegal, but you aren't hurting anybody and it is a stupid law anyway--right?

I am more than consistent in my thoughts. You need to work on your logic.

Shooting a falcon, thats hurting something for your own enjoyment, or whatever you get out of that.

Smoking a joint, that hurts NO ONE AND NOTHING.

Actually, let me correct myself. A speeder would be worse than someone smoking a joint because the speeder's actions could hurt or kill someone. So really, a better comparison is, someone that just rides around with an expired tag is just as bad as someone that smokes a joint.

Criminal enterprise...give me a break. A friend probably gave it to him. You people are outta control with your thoughts on marijuana. D.A.R.E lied to you. Its time to accept that marijuana is better than alcohol Go research it, you will find NO ONE that claims otherwise. Time to end the double standards.

I do believe that if you ask them (and get a truthful answer), how they got started down the drug trail, most will say "By using marijuana and suddenly I discovered that the high from that just wasn't enough."

because marijuana is illegal, that "hard core" drug DEALERS (who also sell pot) "suddenly" offered them cocaine and/or heroine.

If cannabis was legal, taxed, and regulated marijuana smokers would seldom come into contact with hard dope.

In Liberty,

DarthDubious

addicted to this darn website!!! Somebody help me!
-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

you would ban hunting of currently legal game and legalize drug use. You have an interesting philosphy

It is illegal. Buy a subsciption to High Times and fight the fight. I have watched an ex family member use marijuana heavily and become more and more paranoid. He eventually thought that his daughter was evil and tried to choke her to death. Marijuana can affect people with long term use. Now alcohol has its own evils, but the state has made it legal to purchase it. And if a friend gave it to him, then it is a friend that got it from somewhere and can blackmail Horgan when he sees fit. Illegal activity, public office, and the ability to change code to affect people's lives should have a higher standard then working at the local McDonalds. Guess what, I am sure they test there too.

to this"Exactly where in the heck do you think the millions of pounds the DEA doesn't stop goes ?? "

I think it is safe to say that some of those pounds went to Mr Horgan. Don't you? Are you saying that Mr Horgan is contributing to the billions of dollars and lives wasted by fueling the illegal drug trade. Then I agree with you!

How exactly do you define a "good person"? And Retired Hippie, did your generation really make the world a better place? Is our community better? The moment that pot is legalized, you will see this same posting and justification for the legalization of Cocaine and heroin. Lets have our elected officials engage in lawful behavior. At that point, it boils down to judgement and character.

Now all the NUTCASES are coming out of the woodwork to defend Horgy's High.

I have seen most all drugs and drinking in action , the most harmless of the bunch is SMOKING POT !!

Ahhh.. "the most harmles of the bunch (drugs)

Great.. So it's harmful... Just not as harmful as injecting straight heroin in your veins. Not quite as harmful as say.... Snorting meth or whatever the heck you guys do with it. So you defense is that pot is the 'least of the worst' of all the drugs out there. Hmmmm... sounds like a similar justification for electing the politicians we have.

Okay.... whomever else is awake.. Tag your it.. I'm outa here.

Don't Spread My Wealth.... Spread My Work Ethic

Robert thanks you very much for that much needed **support**.

Marijuana has never killed a single person in the history of man, it doesn't cause cancer, heart disease or brain damage.

Well.. all that is debatable. But one thing that is undeniable...It make you real stupid.

Don't Spread My Wealth.... Spread My Work Ethic

But one thing that is undeniable...It make you real stupid.
Pot is an inebriant, but you still have to bring the stupid with you.

It's not easy being the carbonunit

And I've seen it in action more times than I'd ever admit to. Seldom does anything good come out those who are burnt on the stuff. It takes a good long while to erase that fog out of your mind. Give it a little more time Carb. You're getting there.

Don't Spread My Wealth.... Spread My Work Ethic

Its the same as a Drunk and someone who enjoys a drink. Just cause you like to drink, doesn't make you a drunk. So you hung out with some stupid pot heads... that doesn't make people who smoke pot, stupid or chronic users.

Obviously, Horgan is a great example of this...

HE OWNS A BUSINESS AND IS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

Wow, what a loser. That pot sure is rotting his brain away. Sits around all day watching cartoons and eating cheetos. Stereotype... stereotype...stereotype...

What you are failing to grasp is the simple fact that Mr. Horgan knowingly broke the law when he purchased the pot and again when he twisted up that joint and smoked it. Never mind the fact that he was stupid enough to do it while driving around in a vehicle with expired tags in front of a cop.

As far as your statement of, "HE OWNS A BUSINESS AND IS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER", that proves nothing. Bob Crane was an accomplished actor with a hit TV series, Hogan's Heroes, but he was still a pervert with an affinity for kiddy porn.

If you and the Horgan's of this country had the laws changed to allow for the smoking of pot BEFORE he got busted then this would have been a non-story.

As it is Mr. Horgan broke the law and should be punished.

Personally I think Mr. Horgan should be water-boarded to give up his dealer.

I'm gonna keep making this point until someone addresses it. What makes a speeder any better of a person to represent than someone who has smoked pot? They are both lawbreakers. So, are we gonna have an inquisition into the MVRs of all the commissioners? If everyone was being fair, it would only make sense.

The point about him being a successful businessman address the out of control assumptions people make about folks who have smoked pot. This guy obviously has smoked and is obviously successful. He is in NO WAY equal to a freakin child molester. Seriously, unless that was just some humor, what does that have to do with anything?

Now I will agree with you on this. If someone else would have gotten a fine for what he did, and he doesn't cause he is a commissioner, that is wrong. He should not be above the law. Make him pay his fine for that and the expired tag. Once he pays up, and I'm sure he has too, he has served his punishment. Case closed. Now again, he is no worse than the speeding commissioner that just went to court to pay that hefty speeding ticket

so you think that molesting a child and a speeding ticket are the same level of lawbreaking? You are dumber than Horgan!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's look at the act of marijuana usage and the car violations of this Horgan guy. He engaged in a criminal enterprise of obtaining the marijuana. If he grew it himself, then he knowingly obtained seed plants and equipment to grow it. If he purchased it, then he engaged in the distribution of an illegal drug, and ran afoul of numerous federal and state statues. A speeder is a speeder. It was not a decision to engage in a criminal enterprise. The decision to obtain the drug, even before the criminally stupid crime of operating a motor vehicle while consuming the drug was illegal. Speeding is not an engagement in a criminal enterprise.

This is similiar to the apologists of Michael Vick. To his supporters, he didn't do anything other than kill some dogs-people hunt deer, turkeys etc, it is no different. He didn't hurt anybody and it really shouldn't count because hunters also kill animals. To his detractors, though, he engaged in a complete criminal enterprise, across state lines. funded the entire operation. Knowingly participated in illegal acts. Lied about it. And got rolled by his co-conspirators. Lost in all of this discussion is that hunting of certain animals is lawful, while others such as dogs, cats, peregrine falcons, and bald eagles are illegal. Vick knowingly broke the law and got the beat down for it. Why do you excuse Horgan for roughly the same thing? Just because you like weed? Do you excuse other criminal behavior because you don't agree with the law? Give your tired argument a rest

You keep saying that he was operating a motor vehicle while he was smoking pot. Yet there have been no DUI charges, which would have surely followed if he had been doing that- the odds are good that even if the cop hadn't seen him smoking it that he would have given him a drug test after smelling and finding the pot. Also remember that he got pulled over for an expired tag- not for driving erratically.

So, from what we can tell so far, it looks like he wasn't doing anything that was endangering anyone else's life. As opposed to the speeder in the previous example, who the police would classify as driving unsafely and potentially risking his life and the lives of others.

acquired the drug illegally and all that entails. Did my above post even discuss the operation of the motor vehicle. Was that my main point? Whatever. If county employees are fired for this, then he should be too. You weed lovers are out today!!!

Stupid has to be there in the first place, because......it is stupid to get burnt on anything. Moderation, or abstinence, are the only choices for handling inebriants. No problems here, the fog lifted long ago and its a bright sunshiny day, somewhere. Fun, now that's the stuff.

It's not easy being the carbonunit

APOLOGY SOUNDS TRITE AND ONLY DONE CAUSE HE MUST.......IN THE COUNTY JAIL THERE ARE SEVERAL YOUNG MEN THAT ARE INCARCERATED FOR THIS.....WHAT MAKES HORAN SO SPECIAL.......HE KNEW AS A COUNTY EMPLOYEE WHAT THE PUNISHMENT COULD BE......HE SHOULD BE FIRED OR DISMISSED......1ST) HIS TAGS WERE EXPIRED....2ND)INTENTIONALLY LIED TO THE OFFICER....3RD)THEN ADMITTED IT WAS HIS AND DIRECTED THE OFFICER IN FINDING IT 4TH)THEN SUGGESTED A BRIBE.......IS THIS THE STANDARD FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS, IF SO, THEN ALL THE EMPLOYESS FIRED FOR THIS OFFENSE SHOULD COME BACK AND SUE THE COUNTY FOR THEIR JOBS AND BACK PAY.......LETS NOT START THE PRIVILEGED CITIZEN CRAP!!!!!

Branches on your family tree ??

married to your sister? A juvenile exchange continued...

Speeding is breaking the law. A rolling stop is breaking the law. Having a beer while you mow the lawn is probably breaking the law. Downloading a single song without paying for it is breaking the law.

So, if breaking the law is the only reason why someone can't represent us, then I guess NO ONE can represent us. If you can find someone that hasn't broken the law, they are not fit to represent us, as they would be nothing like us.

delete

Pathetic and obvious are the first two words that pop into my mind. Sniffing blood on the water eh? Thinking you boys might get your toes in the door again eh? Tasting revenge like David's Mom huh?

And yes... the man does need to resign. If he doesn't then hey. Start your recall petition, I'll sign it. At least we now know where his priorities are and at least he didn't fondle boys like a past commissioner did.

Don't Spread My Wealth.... Spread My Work Ethic

As I recall, boys weren't the only ones he liked to fondle. ICK!!!! We have had some real winners as commissioners over the last 25 years but this group takes the cake..

Git you are the one that is pathetic and obvious. I am not a Dunn supporter, but after watching the arrogance of Jack Smith, Dunn looks pretty good. Why don't you run for County Commission. Jack Smith is a very poor leader. He is condesending to the citizens. He sits on a throne.

Jack and Robert are no worse than the previous clowns that you've defended in the past.

So who do you say we replace Horgy with? Let's git the ball to rollin'.

Don't Spread My Wealth.... Spread My Work Ethic

Guess that cancels your vote out huh ?? Ha Ha

You have to move into the county and register to vote dude before you can actually pull the lever for High Horgy. But we both know you can't afford to do that don't we? You blew all your money on little plastic bags of dope didn't you?

Soooo.. my vote is safe. Ha Ha!

Don't Spread My Wealth.... Spread My Work Ethic