Pubdate: Wed, 08 Jun 2005
Source: Savannah Morning News (GA)
Copyright: 2005 Savannah Morning News
Contact:  http://www.savannahnow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/401
Author:   Don Lowery

DEPUTY FACES ON DRUG, GUN CHARGES

Melinda Stewart Johnson allegedly bought marijuana in a sting operation.

SPRINGFIELD - An Effingham County Sheriff's deputy was indicted Monday on
felony drug and gun charges for allegedly buying marijuana while on patrol
in Guyton in March.

Melinda Stewart Johnson of Statesboro was indicted for possession with
intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm during the
commission of a crime, both felonies, and a misdemeanor count of possession
of marijuana.

The indictments were handed down by the Effingham Grand Jury late Monday and
made public Tuesday morning, Superior Court deputy clerk Leigh Hale said.

Johnson was fired after her March 8 arrest and later was released from
Effingham Jail on $10,000 bond. She is scheduled for an arraignment hearing
on July 5 before Superior Court Judge William Woodrum.

"We will police our own,'' said Chief Deputy Richard Bush on Tuesday. "We
are not above the law. We cannot and will not let anyone get away with
breaking the law.''

Johnson joined the sheriff's department about seven months before her arrest
and remained on probationary status in early March. Days before her arrest,
drug agents at the sheriff's office received information that she was
involved in purchasing marijuana.

Deputies responded by setting up a sting operation in which Johnson was to
buy an undisclosed amount of the drug. A meeting for the deal was arranged
in the parking lot at the IGA supermarket at the corner of Ga. 119 and Ga.
17 in the small Guyton community.

Johnson was working her patrol duties - wearing a uniform and packing her
service revolver - when she drove into parking lot in a marked deputy's car
on March 8. Deputies watched the marijuana buy from hidden locations, then
converged on the deputy's car and arrested Johnson.

The deputy had stayed on probationary status longer than the usual
six-months because her work performance as a court bailiff and patrol
officer was marginal, officials said.

Johnson was treated the same as civilians during the booking process and a
news release about her arrest was promptly issued to local media.

Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie said he was disappointed in the conduct that led to
her arrest.

McDuffie said his deputies acted quickly and professionally in their
investigation in hopes of preventing the incident to besmirch the image of
the sheriff's office

"We will not tolerate police corruption,'' McDuffie said after the arrest. 
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