Former Sheriff Pleads Guilty To Theft Charges

DADE COUNTY, GA — The former sheriff of a northwest Georgia county has entered guilty pleas to several charges stemming from an investigation conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The GBI said Patrick Cannon, former Dade County sheriff, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to five counts of violation of oath of office and 13 counts of theft by conversion. The state launched an investigation in February 2013 after it was contacted by District Attorney Buzz Franklin.

The GBI was asked to conduct an official investigation concerning "allegations of misappropriation of government funds and property, insurance fraud, violation of oath, and false statements in relation to Cannon," it added.

According to the Times Free Press, Cannon spent thousands of Dade County dollars on purchases from Men's Warehouse and JC Penney after losing his re-election bid to current Sheriff Ray Cross. He also used county funds to pay his family's Verizon Wireless cell phone bill, a decision that cost the county more than $2,000 over a two-year period.

Cannon was sentenced to 10 years probation under the First Offender Act, and will have to pay $9,662.50 in fines and restitution, the GBI said.

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