Gordon BOE member Smith arrested on multiple felony charges
Gordon County Board of Education member Ricky Smith, age 44, was arrested on Monday, Aug. 15, on three felony charges of financial transaction card theft, two felony charges of financial identity fraud and two misdemeanor charges of theft by taking.
According to the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office, on Friday, Aug. 12, a private citizen reported the theft of currency and credit cards from a private residence in the Red Bud community.
“The theft is reported as having occurred on August 5,” said Sheriff Mitch Ralston.
According to a statement from the GCSO, the items were allegedly stolen from a purse inside the residence. The cards were subsequently used in a number of transactions at businesses in Dalton the same day. The credit card providers notified the victim of the theft of unauthorized transactions.
Detectives with the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office and Dalton Police Department have worked together on the investigation. Dalton Police were able to identify the person using the credit card as Smith, with an address of 582 Brown Farm Road in Calhoun, by using video surveillance film.
According to the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office, Smith turned himself in to Sheriff’s detectives at the county jail around 7 p.m. Monday night. At press time, he is being held in the jail pending bond proceedings. According to Sheriff’s detectives, authorities in Dalton will file additional charges against him.
The Gordon County Sheriff’s Office stresses that this investigation did not involve allegations of miscon- duct as an elected member of the Gordon County Board of Education and there have been no allegations or evidence of misuse of any public funds.
Gordon County Schools released the following official statement:
“Gordon County Schools has confirmed with the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office the arrest of Board of Education member Ricky E. Smith. While these are serious allegations, the district is confident that no school or system funds have been compromised. According to Sheriff’s office officials, there is no reason to believe that the arrest had any connections to Mr. Smith’s official capacity on the Board of Education. As the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office completes its investigation, we will update the community on any information related to or impacting the Board of Education and Gordon County Schools. Any questions on this matter should be addressed to Board of Education attorney Jim Ledbetter.”