August 12, 2019–6:06 p.m.

STAFF REPORTS

The case against former Floyd County Schools Maintenance Director Derry Richardson and 12 others accused of stealing from the school system will be re-indicted.

On Monday, Floyd Superior Court Judge Jack Neidrach granted a motion from the state to nolle prosequi or drop the current indictments.

As a result, under Georgia Code, the state will have six months to re-indict.

The defense had raised issues with the first two indictments, such as a lack of language establishing jurisdiction, and one had a “T” instead of the words “True Bill.”

District Attorney Leigh Patterson told us that she is happy with the judge’s ruling, adding that it will allow her office to seek another indictment without losing the statute of limitations.

Richardson is accused of conspiring with other BOE employees and employees of maintenance and construction companies to inflate or falsify invoices, which resulted in the theft of more than $6.3 million dollars between 2007 and 2015.