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Critics have long maintained, bolstered by media investigations, that the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) is perhaps the most dysfunctional department in state government in need of reform. This is again underscored by Tatnall County State Court Judge Ronald Hallman’s sanctioning of the GDC for failing to comply with the discovery process in a civil suit against former Smith State Prison warden Brian Adams and a former prison employee. 

Attorney General Chris Carr is defending the GDC and the judge isn’t happy with Carr’s office either. But more about that later. 

Investigative journalist Jessica Szilagyi, writing for TGV News, has been following the case and provides background: 

“The judicial sanctions stem from a civil suit against Adams and former employee Ireon Moore, both of whom are being sued for their alleged roles in a purported criminal enterprise operating from behind the walls of the prison at the time of the murder of 88-year-old Bobby Kicklighter. 

“The GBI investigation into Kicklighter’s death led to the arrest of four individuals… and eventually uncovered a multimillion dollar criminal enterprise operating from behind the walls of Smith… At the center of the enterprise was a steady influx of contraband, including cell phones, designer clothing, jewelry, drugs, and other items – most often brought into the prison by complicit staff. Over the course of two years that followed the murder, additional murder victims were revealed, including Jesup father and commissary delivery truck driver Jerry Lee Davis, and another former corrections officer, Jessica Jean Gerling. Court records name other GDC staff who were targeted by the criminal enterprise and outline other staff who were arrested on related charges….” 

Szilagyi continues by reporting “the unraveling of the conspiracy culminated with the arrest of Warden Brian Adams and an excavation of the pond at his residence on GDC-property, which revealed buried contraband. Adams was charged with False Statements and Writings, Violation of Oath by a Public Officer, Bribery, and Criminal Attempt – RICO Act. The criminal cases are still pending.” 

The lawsuit plaintiffs allege that the GDC “engaged in intentional discovery misconduct by making false representations, improperly instructing witnesses not to answer, and withholding relevant evidence.” 

The motion for sanctions said the GDC (along with Carr’s office) “inaccurately represented that no investigation into Mr. Kicklighter’s death had been conducted by the GDC and that GDC had no witness available to testify regarding the majority of the above referenced subpoenaed topics.” 

Carr’s assistant attorneys look particularly inept since lawyer Brent Savage, who represents the plaintiffs, told the court that the attorney general’s office “repeatedly instructed witnesses not to answer many questions” and that the witnesses were “not allowed to review or access relevant documents that would have aided in their testimony and were limited to materials hand selected by [the Attorney General’s Office].” At least one issue related to a former GDC/Smith SP employee who sued GDC, but whose lawsuit pleadings were not provided during the discovery process.” 

“In May, Senior Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Crowder appeared before Judge Ronald Hallman … to oppose the Motion for Sanctions against GDC. She was seemingly unprepared to respond to the allegations that the state had obstructed the discovery process,” Szilagyi reports. … Crowder lamented that the Department of Corrections was not in possession of documents sought by Savage and the plaintiffs in another lawsuit.”  Szilagyi quotes this exchange between the judge and Crowder: 

Hallman: “Would the Department of Corrections have copies of the pleadings in the case where the Department of Corrections was a party?” 

::11-second pause:: 

Crowder: “I… the only honest answer that I have is that yes, they would have pleadings, um, internally, the way things are done within the department, the AG’s office, how much information was given … with regards to that…I did not, I was not aware that she had, I knew that there was an employment lawsuit pending. I did not dive in to find out exactly what that was about in terms of the complaint, but it was my understanding that it was an employment lawsuit and not a ‘contraband into the facility,’ and had nothing to do with Brian Adams specifically, but maybe I was misinformed. And to the extent that I was misinformed, that is on me and I apologize for that. But yes, they would be aware of the fact that a complaint was filed. Yes.” 

James Magazine Online will be following this case. It’s incredible that a warden could be running a crime ring inside his own prison with the help of inmates. It’s also unacceptable, as reported by JMO and other media outlets, that all too many state correctional institutions are understaffed with underpaid guards and other employees.  And there remain all too many gang-related inmate killings and injuries often fostered by illegal cell phone usage within prison walls.