Douglas County Responds To Janitorial Bid Indictment

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — Douglas County leaders remain "committed to delivering superior public service to its citizens" after three elected officials, a former purchasing director and a contractor were indicted by a grand jury Friday in connection with a 2018 janitorial bid.

County Administrator David Corbin released a statement late Friday acknowledging the indictment, which accuses the defendants of helping S&A Express sail through a county bidding process in 2018.

Douglas County Chairwoman Romona Jackson Jones, Douglas County Commissioner Henry Mitchell, Douglas County Tax Commissioner Greg Baker, former purchasing director Bill Peacock and S&A Express owner Anthony Knight were indicted on one count of conspiracy in restraint of free and open competition in transactions.

• RELATED: Douglas County Officials, Former Employee And Contractor Indicted

In the statement, Corbin said the allegations should not distract from the county's accomplishments.

"It is important to remember that an indictment is just an allegation, and that those indicted are entitled to a presumption of innocence," Corbin said. "The public should rest assured that the Douglas County government remains committed to delivering superior public service to its citizens and will focus on continuing to advance the County in a positive direction."

The defendants are accused of opening and reviewing sealed bids and adding S&A's bid in an amount that exactly matched the lowest bid, according to the indictment.

The contract between S&A and Douglas County officials was signed before being voted on at a Board of Commissioners meeting, according to the indictment. The defendants voted in favor of adopting the contract during the meeting, according to the indictment.

Jones is accused of giving a false statement on June 1, 2022, to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the agency in charge of investigating the case, according to the indictment. She is accused of falsely telling special agents that she did not sign the janitorial contract prior to the commissioners meeting.