deputy fired after being accused of stealing school band funds

GA

For the second time in two weeks, a Bibb County sheriff's deputy has found himself on the other side of the law.

The sheriff's office announced Wednesday that a deputy was terminated following an investigation of a possible theft totaling more than $2,000 from the Westside High School band program.

Robert Moran, 41, who volunteered as president of the school's Band Boosters, was arrested Monday and charged with felony theft by taking in connection with the incident, sheriff's office spokesman Lt. George Meadows said.

He was released on $3,400 bond from the Bibb County jail, where he worked as a corrections officer, and fired the same day.

A tentative trial date has been set for July.

Deputy Jiwana Daquare Green, 30, who is also assigned to the corrections division, was arrested June 12 on charges of misdemeanor marijuana possession following a traffic stop by Macon police for a burned out headlight and cracked taillight.

Green remains on suspension with pay from the sheriff's office pending results of investigations by the sheriff's office internal affairs department and Macon police.

Bibb County Sheriff Jerry Modena called the incidents "regrettable."

"It's regrettable whenever we have to take this kind of action against one of our deputies. But in each case, when it comes to our attention that they have violated their oath of office in some manner, we have taken quick action and will do so anytime that's occurred," Modena said in a statement Wednesday.

In January, school officials began noticing discrepancies in the club's fundraising account. Problems with the account continued until May when $2,600 was unaccounted for. School officials contacted the sheriff's office.

Bibb County schools Deputy Superintendent Sylvia McGee said Westside principal Laura Perkins had been involved in the investigation from the beginning.

"She's very much aware of the investigation. It started earlier in the year. She had sent (Moran) several certified letters requesting information with no response."

McGee said she and Perkins were not aware of Moran's arrest before being contacted by The Telegraph late Wednesday.

"This is a very unfortunate situation. It's most unfortunate for the students who were in the band. As a result of funds, I'm sure there were probably services they were not able to take advantage of," she said.

Band Boosters, made up of Westside High parents, is not a direct entity of the high school. The organization raises money mostly for band trips and clinics, McGee said. It has its own fundraising account.

Westside High band director Dan Tyner was not immediately available for comment.

Moran became president of the club this year, McGee said. He has a daughter who graduated from the high school in May.

Meadows said Moran joined the sheriff's office about three years ago and has no prior reprimands.

In addition to the two arrests, the department is continuing to deal with a GBI investigation into allegations of overtime pay abuse by employees at the sheriff's office. The initial investigation, undertaken last year, involved five deputies and overtime submitted - but not worked - for three days.

Modena has said that only one deputy claimed overtime hours she did not work.

All of the deputies, four of whom represented the command staff of the Corrections Division, were reprimanded for violating the policies and procedures of the sheriff's office.

The sheriff "holds his deputies to a higher standard and that higher standard plays a role in every investigation," Meadows said.


Information from The Telegraph's archives was used in this report.