Jimmy Holt appointed Miller County Sheriff

Following the recommendation of the committee he appointed, Governor Brian Kemp issued an Executive Order on Monday, August 30, 2022, suspending Miller County Sheriff Richard Morgan. The suspension will last for a period of sixty days and was effective immediately upon issuing the order.

Immediately thereafter Craig Earnest, Chief Judge of the Superior Courts Pataula Judicial Circuit, appointed Jimmy Holt as Sheriff of Miller County and he was sworn in. Holt has assumed the duties and responsibilities of the Office of Sheriff of Miller County for the time Sheriff Morgan is to be suspended.

Last month, Governor Kemp appointed a committee comprised of Attorney General Chris Carr, Colquitt County Sheriff Rod Howell and Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk. After an investigation, the three recommended the suspension to the Governor.

Sheriff Morgan was arrested on August 10 by agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. They had been asked to look into sexual misconduct allegations involving the sheriff. The agency has said the charges stem from “an incident that took place while on a 911 call”.

Morgan took office in 2021. Former Sheriff Scott Worsley passed away during the campaign and still received a majority of the votes on election day. Morgan, a Republican, became sheriff, however, because Miller County Democrats failed to replace Worsley’s name on the ballot.

Holt, the newly appointed Sheriff of Miller County, is retired from the Georgia State Patrol. He is also a retired Chief of Police for the city of Donalsonville.