As of Friday, June 15, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Albany Herald
ALBANY — Gov. Nathan Deal issued an executive order on Friday naming a tribunal to review the April felony indictment of Dougherty County School Board member Velvet Riggins on four counts of school lunch fraud.
The governor appointed Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens, Henry County School Board member Erik Charles and Tift County School Board member Shawn Utley to review the charges against Riggins.
The governor formed the tribunal as "a review commission to determine whether the indictment relates to and adversely affects the administration of the office of the Dougherty County Board of Education ..."
Deal also instructed the tribunal to make a written report to be delivered to his office within 14 days with a recommendation as to whether Riggins should be suspended from office, as required by O.C.G.A §45-5-6(e).
Riggins was indicted on April 25 by a Dougherty County grand jury on two counts of theft by taking, public record fraud and providing false information to obtain free school meals for a child.
The indictment stems from two 2011-12 free or reduced-cost school lunch applications filed for her children at Robert Cross Middle Magnet School and Lincoln Elementary Magnet School.
Riggins and her attorney, Mark Brimberry, appeared at an arraignment hearing on June 5 before Superior Court Stephen Goss, who gave Brimberry until June 19 to file motions in the case.
It will likely be early July before any more trial matters are heard.
More like this story
- Riggins to face tribunal ( June 25, 2012 )
- Riggins To Appear before tribunal tomorrow ( June 25, 2012 )
- Velvet Riggins appears before tribunal ( June 26, 2012 )
- Tribunal recommends Riggins' suspension ( July 2, 2012 )
- Velvet Riggins' trial nearing jury phase ( September 20, 2012 )
Comments
Bubbavet_rureel 11 months ago
Okay, selective but okay.
brendajohnson 11 months ago
Integrity would dictate that she should resign; moral character is lacking in the DCSS. There are others that are guilty of cheating the taxpayers in this free/reduced school lunch scandal--high paying administrators and teachers are claiming free lunches and they will get away with it because they can submit new correct lunch forms next year...
Sister_Ruby 11 months ago
Is it true that you are coachjohnson42 Mama?
coachjohnson42 11 months ago
is it true that they kicked you out of the trailer park?
Shinedownfan 11 months ago
Why you attacking Sister Ruby? Cause she got it right?
coachjohnson42 11 months ago
she started it...i finished it
MRKIA 11 months ago
SISTER YOU GOT IT WRONG THIS TIME.
Sister_Ruby 11 months ago
I was just kidding anyway. If brendajohnson was coachjohnson Mama, she would not be very proud of him based on their differing opinions.
Bubbavet_rureel 11 months ago
Everytime!!!
Bubbavet_rureel 11 months ago
Who your's, you cant handle the truth, Riggins is innocent.
FlunkyMonkey 11 months ago
"a review commission to determine whether the indictment relates to and adversely affects the administration of the office of the Dougherty County Board of Education ..."
She lied on an application and stole money when she did it! If that doesn't adversely affects the administration of the office, someone please tell me what does,
Bubbavet_rureel 11 months ago
Prove she lied, where did you hear that "hearsay" be careful what you read.
FlunkyMonkey 11 months ago
They showed the application bearing her signature on the news. Also, she stated that she "misunderstood" the application. That is proof enough that she LIED on the application. If she can not understand this application, then she has no business sitting on the school board. Misunderstood, my ass....
VSU 11 months ago
BVR just can't handle the truth.
Bubbavet_rureel 11 months ago
How about she is innocent until proven guilty. She only have one vote and does not directly handle anything on her own.
This is the onlt attention sister gets, if it were not for me and Coach she would remain a ghost in society.
We like sister, she is the friend we never had, we constantly have to misspell words to give her something to be - watch this - pruod of, are is it proud sister.
The Real Morning Deal
MRKIA 11 months ago
AS I'VE PREVIOUSLY PREDICTED, VELVET WILL BE COPPING A PLEA NEXT MONTH AND WILL LOSE HER SEAT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. THIS IS CALLED DUE PROCESS.
waltspecht 11 months ago
The only way to keep her out is to convict her. I don't see that happpening in Albany. Problem is she might beat it on a technicallity, but she knew she was doing wrong when she did it. However, it is difficult to convict on intent. Whatever happened to leaders that had a good moral compass? I guess they went away with School Prayer.
Terry.Lewis 11 months ago
During her arraignment, Goss repeatedly returned to "intent" when pressing the DA about the charges.
coachjohnson42 11 months ago
I'm sure you were slobbering at the mouth when he said that....
Terry.Lewis 11 months ago
Actually, that works in Velvet's interest.
Bubbavet_rureel 11 months ago
Velvet we need your honesty and leadership on the board. Keep serving!!
MRKIA 11 months ago
ALBANY NEEDS VELVET IN THE SAME CAPACITY AS THE GIRL SCOUTS CURRENTLY HAVE.
Bubbavet_rureel 11 months ago
Walt, stay in your lane, keep being critical, and I'll keep controlling behaviors.
Please dont respond to my comments.
Sister_Ruby 11 months ago
In the immortal words of Al Gore "Help is on the way!"
MRKIA 11 months ago
YOU COULD BE RIGHT WALT, BUT SHE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO TRIAL TO BEAT THE CHARGE. WHAT WOULD A JURY SAY TO A SITTING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER (VELVET) IMPLYING THAT THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE FREE LUNCH APPLICATION THAT THEY SIGNED? MULHOLLAND WILL GET A PLEA AND AWAY SHE GOES. DITTO FOR THE BAKERS. JAIL TIME IS NOT WARRANTED IN THESE CASES, IMO.
sassy 11 months ago
If it is fraud jail time is justice!!!
Bubbavet_rureel 11 months ago
You guys are talking out loud, she is innocent and will not be found guilty. Motions for suppression is all that is needed. Case closed.
The Real Deal
Bubbavet_rureel 11 months ago
Coach, we are right and we're winning. Obama, 4 more years. Riggins, serve as long as you get elected by the voters. Dont worry about the negative commenters, they do not have any other business, they are the critical people with nothing positive to do. We dont listen to their negative responses anymore.
The Real Deal, I close things out.
FryarTuk 11 months ago
Watch for Riggins' attorney to try to persuade Deal to hold off making a decision until the election. Then go before 12 for acquittal. It's all in the cards. Now let's see if there is a square Deal.
Sister_Ruby 11 months ago
Democrat Surrogate Lesson #1: Talk over the conservative opponent........don't let the conservative opponent complete their sentence before interrupting by talking over what they are saying....dominate the airwaves with meaningless blather that takes up the allotted air time and the network must go to Commercial in order to pay the Bills. B_r and cj42....you are PROs at this. Congratulations!! Obama must surely have a Cabinet position for you in the Next Term! Like Czar of Bull S and Czar of Horse S perhaps? That would fit you both nicely! Well Done!!
MRKIA 11 months ago
THE SAME CROSS SECTION OF JURORS THAT INDICTED HER WILL BE SIMILAR TO A TRIAL JURY. SURE, THE DEFENSE WILL TRY TO MUDDLE THE JUDGE AND JURY WITH "INTENT" AS THERE IS NO CREDIBLE DEFENSE. IS SHE OVER THE INCOME LIMIT? SEEMS TO BE THE BASIS FOR THE CHARGE. IS HER SIGNATURE ON THE APP? OF COURSE. I STAND BY MY PREDICTION .
Sister_Ruby 11 months ago
The self-nom-de-plumed "Real Deal" will meet the Real "Nathan Deal" and the Final Deal will the the Death Kneel for those that signed the un-earned "Free Meal".
Bye!
Felony = Loss of Voting Rights, Loss of ability to Hold Public Office. All coming for the lying Riggins. Just wait and see! We hope you enjoyed your Scam but of course there are several thousand more out there doing the same thing. Let's go get them too!
Sister_Ruby 11 months ago
Wait! I just saw coachjohnson on TV!
Introducing Homey D. Clown by digishah
coachjohnson42 11 months ago
Sister Ruby is just jealous of me
Bubbavet_rureel 11 months ago
Goodnight sister, we love having you as a friend. She will walk on these charges, we need for you to feel the realness of what the deal is sealing in this thread.
VSU 11 months ago
We feel the realness of your idiotcy.
waltspecht 11 months ago
So you are implying that even though she knowingly defrauded the Lunch Program, she will not be convicted, or deal out. If I remember correctly how this works, her Lawyer has a long list of others that have done the exact same thing over the years, and haven't been touched. The Judicial system will not want this embarassment to come to light, so it will work with the Lawyer to make sure this list never becomes public. Plus, many of the folks on that list are "Albany's Elite" I would presume. Is that what you are alluding to? Influence peddeling? The same thing that has happened in many a drug trial and many a corrupt Official under investigation.
MRKIA 11 months ago
THE FACT THAT VELVET FILLED OUT THE APP AND ATTESTED TO IT'S ACCURACY IS LOST ON BUBBAVET_
Bubbavet_rureel 11 months ago
Have you seen the evidence? Walt let the judicial process work. Did you convict Zimmerman, I didn't think so!
waltspecht 11 months ago
Now that you mention it, I for one, believe Zimmerman acted in self defense. When a younger stronger individual is assaulting you, They have the so called advantage. If the assaulted individual has the means to overcome that assault, and uses it, that is self defense. As long as that individual was in fear for their life at the time. Has absolutely nothing to do with the Stand Your Ground Law. Simple ruling of self defense if Zimmerman is telling the truth. About like the guy at the nightclub parking lot here in Albany that used a knife in much the same manner.
MRKIA 11 months ago
MULLHOLLAND IS NOT PART OF THE ALBANY SYSTEM SO I DON'T EXPECT VELVET TO RECIEVE ANY CONSIDERATION. WE DON'T HAVE TO SEE THE EVIDENCE, THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM NEEDS TO SEE THE EVIDENCE. RESULT? TRUE BILL. SINCE THE CHARGES ARE NOT GOING TO BE DROPPED IT ONLY LEAVES THE OPTIONS OF A PLEA OR A JURY OR BENCH TRIAL. I'M GOING WITH A PLEA. I'M DONE WITH THIS POST, LET THE PROCESS TAKE IT'S COURSE.
Bubbavet_rureel 11 months ago
You forgot nol pros, study some more, mr. smart guy.
MRKIA 11 months ago
AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN.
Bubbavet_rureel 11 months ago
You must know, first you quote Jesus, now you know how the judicial process will work in the Riggins case.
FryarTuk 11 months ago
It's not likely Joe Mulholland will file a nolle prosequi motion in Velvet Riggins case. If Brimberry firm can make a Deal to hold off on a suspension until after the election, she'll take 12. As far as evidence, there is ample otherwise this law firm would not be representing Riggins and these charges would not have made it to this level and Brimberry firm would not be holding their cards so tightly to their vest. You will have a swift trial by jury hoping for acquittal.
Bubbavet_rureel 11 months ago
The law firm are defending accusations only. She will be okay, this is political in nature. Ask Zimmerman and John Edwards.
cotenayj6 11 months ago
Bubbavet, "we're winning" does not work when only two people agree on something and SEVERAL others disagree. You ask how they know she is guilty, how do you know she is innocent? Sorry to burst your bubble, but I have a feeling you and coach will be disappointed when Obama is not re elected. Zimmerman compared to this case? Ehh.. How many times are you going to say "We do not respond to their responses anymore" "I'm closing this out" "Goodnight" before you actually shut up and realize your arguments are a lost cause.
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