By Dean Dyer
WRWH Radio
Cleveland, GA – White County Sheriff Neal Walden said Friday afternoon he has requested that Enotah Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jeff Langley not pursue the charges filed against Shannon Hamilton. Hamilton is the father of one of two teens killed in a car wreck on Gene Nix Road in White County March 15th.
Hamilton was arrested April 12th when he attempted to install a temporary barrier, a gravel berm, on the side of the road where the car his daughter Cecily was in ran off the road and plunged into Town Creek. Hamilton was charged with interference with government property.
Sheriff Walden said he has written a letter to the DA telling him that they have, “thoroughly reviewed the totality of the events and circumstances in this situation.” The letter states that, “This tragedy has affected an entire community, most greatly the Hamilton and Swing families.”
The Sheriff said, “We recognize Mr. Hamilton acted and chose to violate the law, however, this was extenuating circumstances coupled with grief and emotion. Clearly his cause was right, but his method wrong.”
The letter goes on to say, “For these reasons and the totality of the circumstances, the White County Sheriff’s Office offers no objection and would ask that you not pursue charges against Mr. Shannon Hamilton.”
The final decision on whether or not to pursue the charges will be left up to the District Attorney.
Since the fatal accident, White County Commission Chairman Travis Turner said they would place guardrails at Gene Nix Road bridge. Temporary concrete barriers were installed this past Wednesday and chairman Turner advised Friday morning the guardrail company will be installing the permanent guardrails on April 28th.
Turner met with Hamilton on Wednesday at the bridge after the temporary barriers were put in place. Following their meeting Turner said it was positive and he hopes it was the first step to a healing process in this situation.
