Former Georgia sheriff pleads guilty to theft, gets probation

A former North Georgia sheriff pleaded guilty Tuesday to five counts of violating his oath and 13 counts of theft by conversion, the GBI said.

The charges against Patrick Cannon come from a GBI investigation that began in 2013, spokeswoman Nelly Miles said.

The investigation concerned allegations of misappropriation of government funds, insurance fraud, violation of oath and false statements, the GBI said.

Cannon was sentenced to 10 years on probation (first offender), fined $9,600 and ordered to make restitution.

After losing his re-election bid to current sheriff Ray Cross, Cannon spent about $2,800 of county money at Men's Warehouse and $600 at JCPenney in October 2012, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported. He also used county money to pay a Verizon Wireless bill, the paper reported.

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Consultant Jeff Dickerson offered to help him see about getting the charges reduced or eliminated.

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