Federal authorities are investigating a Southeast Georgia Superior Court judge who ordered $67,000 in undisclosed payments to Clinch County employees.
Records show Judge Brooks Blitch III ordered monthly payments to three employees beginning in 2001. That's when the Clinch County Commission voted to stop paying extra money to county employees for helping supervise misdemeanor probationers in addition to their full-time duties. County Commissioner Barry Hart says, the judge's order reinstated the employees' monthly stipends of $250 to $300.
A report by the county auditor says, the payments were kept off the court clerk's books and were not reported to state or federal tax collectors. The money came from extra court fees ordered on criminal cases. The office of the U-S Attorney for Middle Georgia has subpoenaed county documents for a grand jury investigation.
Records show Judge Brooks Blitch III ordered monthly payments to three employees beginning in 2001. That's when the Clinch County Commission voted to stop paying extra money to county employees for helping supervise misdemeanor probationers in addition to their full-time duties. County Commissioner Barry Hart says, the judge's order reinstated the employees' monthly stipends of $250 to $300.
A report by the county auditor says, the payments were kept off the court clerk's books and were not reported to state or federal tax collectors. The money came from extra court fees ordered on criminal cases. The office of the U-S Attorney for Middle Georgia has subpoenaed county documents for a grand jury investigation.
