The Latest Local News from the Rome News
Former Floyd County Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Nelson could have gone to trial on accusations he lied about a man throwing a microwave at him — a charge that might have landed the suspect in prison for 20 years.
Nelson, 35, instead on Friday entered a best-interest guilty plea to three counts of violation of his oath of office, two counts of false statements and one count of making a false swearing.
Floyd County Superior Court Judge J. Bryant Durham sentenced Nelson to a year in prison, followed by five years’ probation. He also must pay a $1,000 fine.
Nelson must report to the Floyd County Jail at 4 p.m. April 17 to begin serving his sentence.
“I think that we wanted to send a message,” District Attorney Leigh Patterson said. “You can’t lie to a judge and get away with it.”
Nelson’s charges stemmed from the 2012 attempted arrest of a man on a probation violation.
According to prosecutors, Nelson went to the man’s home and tried to arrest him.
“The floor was wet and the defendant slipped, fell and hit his head,” Assistant District Attorney Natalee Staats said.
Nelson, however, claimed that the 5-foot-2 suspect picked up a 52-pound microwave and threw it at the deputy, hitting him in the head, the prosecutor said.
“It is our position that he lied when he said that,” Staats added. “He lied in an affidavit that he gave to get a warrant for aggravated assault against a police officer. The defendant changed his story on multiple occasions.”
Nelson, a seven-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, resigned shortly after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation began an investigation.
Chris Twyman, Nelson’s attorney, said plea negotiations between himself and prosecutors lasted over a year. Neither side had a strong case, leading his client to pursue a best-interest guilty plea.
Defendants can use a best-interest plea to acknowledge prosecutors have enough evidence to convict them, as opposed to an outright admission of guilt.
It has no affect on Nelson’s sentence.
Durham sentenced Nelson as a first offender.
No conviction will appear on his record if he successfully completes his probation, though he can never again work as a deputy.
Source: Rome News
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