Georgia sheriff accused of groping Judge Glenda Hatchett pleads guilty

Kris Coody, the Georgia sheriff accused of groping Judge Glenda Hatchett, was convicted after he pleaded guilty to the offense. In the wake of his conviction, Hatchett said justice has been served, 11Alive reported.

Coody in a statement also announced he had resigned from his position as Bleckley County Sheriff. As previously reported by Face2Face Africa, the former sheriff was charged with sexual battery after he allegedly groped Hatchett’s breast during a Georgia Sheriff’s Association event at a hotel on January 18 last year.

“To be clear, I had no intent to touch Ms. Hatchett inappropriately. Unfortunately, I acted in a careless manner and for that I have taken full responsibility for my actions,” Coody said in the statement.

Hatchett publicly spoke about the incident for the first time during a news conference on Monday. “I was absolutely frozen,” she recalled. “I never felt so helpless in my entire life. And I was angry frankly. I was angry I didn’t slap him.”

Thomas Brown, who is a former DeKalb County Sheriff, informed the judge the accused man “had a lot to drink” at the time of the incident. “And when I turned back to my left is when I saw his hand on her chest. And I immediately removed it and directed to him, ‘What are you doing?'” Brown said.

“(Brown) literally had to take his hand off of me and push him off of me,” Hatchett also said, adding that she filed charges the day after the incident. She also said the incident had a negative impact on her.

“I needed help – my life had been changed,” she revealed. “I never expected that I would be so deeply affected by this,” she added. “I’ve never been the victim – I’ve been the advocate.”

Besides a 12-month probation sentence, Coody was ordered to perform 40 hours of community service and fined $400, 11Alive reported. The former sheriff must also undergo a psychosexual evaluation and complete an alcohol and drug course. He has also been ordered to avoid contacting Hatchett.