A former North Georgia deputy pleaded guilty Wednesday to obstructing a civil rights investigation involving the arrest of a woman who had complained about a judge’s sexual advances.
Michael Henderson, 41, could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced May 31, U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said. Henderson admitted to his role in the case, which involved drugs planted in the car of Angela Garmley, who had complained that Magistrate Judge Bryant Cochran solicited her for sex.
In April 2012, Garmley went to court to take out warrants against people she alleged had beaten her. While there, Cochran told Garmley to meet him in his office, where he told her he needed a mistress he could trust and asked her to return a few days later wearing a dress, but no underwear, Garmley previously told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Cochran resigned Aug. 15 after an investigation revealed he had pre-signed warrants when he was out of the office. But he denied he had propositioned Garmley.
Henderson and Cochran are cousins.
Investigators believe Henderson tipped off other Murray County deputies to a white Dodge that was being used to transport drugs, Yates said. Another deputy, Joshua Greeson, stopped the car and arrested Garmley and the man driving her car after finding suspected drugs.
Acting on a tip, GBI investigators determined that the drugs had been planted in the Dodge, and the charges against the two were dropped. Henderson initially told the GBI he had not told anyone about the drugs being in the car. Both he and Greeson were fired from the sheriff’s office.
“Mr. Henderson violated both the law and the public’s trust when he lied to his fellow law enforcement officers and obstructed a civil rights investigation,” Yates said in an emailed statement. “Bottom line, the citizens of Murray County at minimum deserve police officers who obey the laws that they have sworn to enforce.”
Henderson has cooperated with the investigation.
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