NEWS FROM THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE

02/15/08

“Former Teacher Pleads Guilty to Drug Possession”

Following a July 2007 arrest by the Appalachian Drug Task Force and the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, James Timothy Gibson (49), former agriculture teacher for the Lumpkin County High School, and four others recently pled guilty to drug charges.

On July 17^{th, 2007 investigators executed a search warrant at Gibson’s residence and located packaged marijuana, a marijuana plant, grow-lights, a revolver, and chemicals which appeared to have been used in an attempt to manufacture methamphetamine. Investigators also located $61,000 cash in the trunk of one of the vehicles at the residence.}

James Gibson (49), Kathy Gibson, (49), Richard Eugene Gibson (18), Eduardo Castillo (17) and William Joseph Day (21) were all charged with criminal attempt to manufacture marijuana, transaction in drugs within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a chemical to manufacture methamphetamine.

William Day eventually admitted to most of the felony charges by pleading guilty to criminal attempt to manufacture methamphetamine and manufacturing marijuana and was sentenced to 20 years of probation with three to be served in prison. James Gibson pled guilty to misdemeanor possession of marijuana and three counts of keeping a disorderly house and was sentenced to four years of probation by Judge David Barrett. The disorderly house pleas were due to Gibson being aware of the criminal activity that was taking place in his home.

Kathy Gibson pled guilty to four counts of misdemeanor possession of marijuana and was sentenced to four years of probation. Richard Gibson and Eduardo Castillo pled guilty to a single count of misdemeanor possession of marijuana and both received 12 months of probation.

Captain Jason Stover

Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office