Fayette | News

Ethics panel decides against Horgan, takes no action

Mon, 09/28/2009 - 3:38pm
By: Ben Nelms

Fayette County Commissioner Robert Horgan in an ethics hearing Monday afternoon was found in violation of two of the three charges leveled against him over a May 23 arrest on misdemeanor marijuana charges.

The decison by the three-attorney panel resulted no assessed penalty and will be forwarded to the Fayette County Commission.

The ethics hearing was conducted by a panel of county attorneys from Spalding, Pike and Meriwether counties. They heard the three-part complaint that stemmed from Horgan’s May 23 arrest by a sheriff’s deputy on misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and driving with an expired tag.

The panel found a violation in complaint #1 which stated essentially that Horgan had not upheld the U.S. Constitution and state laws.

The panel found no violation in complaint #2 which asserted that Horgan had attempted to solicit a bribe after he was placed in the back of the patrol car and asked “if there was anything that we could do to resolve this right here, right now!”

On complaint #3 the panel found a violation in that Horgan’s conduct in the incident was unbecoming.

Horgan faces possible reprimand and up to $1,000 in fines by the commission. He is also facing misdemeanor charges for the marijuana possession.

In a related matter, an effort to recall Horgan from office died in a LaGrange courtroom Aug. 28 as a Superior Court judge ruled the grounds for recall were insufficient since the traffic stop on a Saturday could not be connected to Horgan’s official duty as a county commissioner.

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Thanks for your encouragement, ImJustSaying...
Shoebox's picture
Submitted by Shoebox on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 11:38pm.

but it's not the drug smokin' public servant that scares me...it's the fact that the drug smokin' public servant is supposed to uphold the law, not violate it and not make excuses for his unlawful acts. This is not about morals, it's about character. A society with weak leaders becomes a weak society.


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It's plain and simple
Submitted by Bikepilot on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 10:22pm.

It's not about whether smoking pot is worse than drinking alcohol. We could have the make it legal argument or make it illegal argument all day long. What it is about is someone elected to an office not following the laws that were put in place by the same government structure that gives him the freedom to run for and be elected to that office. Who cares if someone smokes pot or drinks till they pass out in their own home and doesn't affect anyone other than themselves. For me I would feel he needs to be removed for any misdemeanor offense because with election to a position even as small in the scheme of things as local government comes certain responsibilities. Now whether the powers that be do it or people get off their rears and go votes him out of office are two different topics that could apply to any level of government.

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Keeping it plain and simple
Submitted by doright on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 5:28am.

Bikepilot could you repost your wonderful post It's plain and simple? Our friend Normal missed out on hearing your words of wisdom.

Here's to you Normal, words to live by Bikepilot...

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Next Week
Submitted by PTC Observer on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 8:49pm.

We will see how the court handles the charges against him.

I assume a slap on the wrist and we will wait until he is up for re-election.

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That is all the charges justify...
Submitted by Spyglass on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 8:58am.

And yes, he'll be gone election time.

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IN OTHER WORDS...
Shoebox's picture
Submitted by Shoebox on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 5:10pm.

DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO, EVEN IF YOU BREAK THE LAW, AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, BECAUSE NOBODY REALLY CARES, NOT EVEN THE ONES WHO SHOULD!!! EVIDENCE OF WHAT OUR SOCIETY HAS COME TO. VERY SAD AND DISHEARTENING AND SHAMEFUL...AND FRIGHTENING!


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AND FRIGHTENING!
ImJustSaying's picture
Submitted by ImJustSaying on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 7:09pm.

If my memory of history serves me correctly, I believe there was a time in this country when pot was legal and alcohol wasn't. I guess some laws are worth changing. SHOEBOX fear not..I don't think reefer smokers are all that frightening!!


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Was only a joint
Submitted by normal on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 6:34pm.

Big damn deal. It should be legal to buy and use just like all you druggies out there slop down your alcohol. Just tax it heavy and let it roll. For some reason you people think it is ok to drink a killer drug like alcohol but when someone lights up a joint OMG what should we do. I dont use either. And I dont associate with those that do. No one needs drugs in their system. But the one is not any worse than the other.

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Normal really isn't all that normal
Submitted by doright on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 5:25am.

Normal you have missed the boat and are on chicken island all by yourself singing "One is the loneliest number".

This is about a commissioner, an elected official, not upholding the law for which he was elected to do. When you endanger the lives of others by driving under the influence you get kicked out of county government work if are an employee, being a commissioner should not exempt you for you are not above the law.

You have an interesting take on crime and illegal activity not one that's normal and as we have seen not one that is shared by most Fayette County upstanding citizens.

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Misdemeanors?!?
Submitted by Spyglass on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 5:12pm.

Are you saying anyone accused of a misdemeanor isn't fit to hold office?

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Misdemeanors....they should be stoned
NUK_1's picture
Submitted by NUK_1 on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 6:38pm.

SHOEBOX IS REALLY UPSET AND HAVING A TEMPER TANTRUM OVER THIS AND MIGHT GO CRY IN THE CORNER IF YOU'RE NOT NICE!!!!

The fact that Horgan was charged with a MISDEMEANOR was long ago lost on people here. It might as well have been building a pipe bomb to blow up Melear's(not a terrible idea, I must say)instead. I didn't realize that all drugs and drug crimes could be completely eradicated if we the citizenz could find out just where and who Horgan bought some pot from.


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"they should be stoned"??
Main Stream's picture
Submitted by Main Stream on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 9:06pm.

NUK, I thought he WAS stoned. Eye-wink


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