$3 million settlement in Ga. school search lawsuit

A southwest Georgia sheriff's order to conduct a massive, invasive drug search of hundreds of students at Worth County High School will cost the county $3 million under a proposed settlement announced Tuesday in a federal civil rights lawsuit.

"The students' voices have been heard," said Crystal Redd, an attorney with the Southern Center for Human Rights, which represented the students in the federal civil rights lawsuit filed in June. The settlement is pending federal court approval.

Hobby was indicted by a Worth grand jury last month on charges of sexual battery, violation of oath of office and false imprisonment. On Monday, Gov. Nathan Deal suspended Hobby from his sheriff's post until the criminal case is resolved.

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