Jury indicts Towns Deputy
Grand Jury says Eddie Osborn must stand trial
JOAN CROTHERS Towns Sentinel Editor

The Grand Jury, chosen for the July Term 2007 of Towns County Superior Court, met on October 11, 2007 in the Towns County Courthouse before the Hon. Lynn Akeley- Alderman, Judge of Superior Court, Enotah Judicial Circuit. They considered 10 criminal cases presented to them by N. Stanley Gunter, District Attorney, and returned 10 True bills, 0 No bill and 0 Tabled.

The ten felony cases heard by the Grand Jury, along with a number of other cases, are on the Criminal Arraignment Calendar to be heard before Judge David Barrett on November 28, 2007. One of the ten cases was former Chief Deputy Eddie Jay Osborn and charges are: 4 Cts. of Aggravated Assault, 2 Cts. Firearm/Knife Possession During Crime/Att Crime, 2 Cts. False Statements/Writings, 2 Cts.Oath by Public Officer- Violation of, and Tampering w/Evidence/Misd.

Osborn was arrested in July along with another Towns County deputy bccause of their involvement in the shooting incident on Cynth Creek in Towns County on July 9, 2007. Fourteen rounds had been fired into the living quarters of Garry Dean around midnight on that date, but he and an employee had not been hit. The GBI was called in at that time to investigate the incident.

Sheriff Rudy Eller later admitted to lying to investigators and was charged with making false statements, tampering with evidence and hindering and obstructing law enforcement officers, which resulting in his resigning the office of sheriff. The other deputy who had been charged subsequently died of what was determined to be a self-inflicted wound.

Currently, Neal Dover is serving as sheriff in Towns County and is one of six candidates running for that office in a special election which will take place in November.