CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A former Clayton County deputy is behind bars nearly two weeks after his wife was arrested and placed in the same jail.
Robert Hawes faces charges of false documents by an officer, making false statements and violating his oath of office.
Hawes announced earlier this month his plans to run against current Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill.
Last week, Hawes' wife, Gerrian Hawes, was arrested and jailed over emails she sent to Hill. He claimed the emails were harassing him.
The couple have accused Hill of trying to intimidate them because Hawes plans to challenge Hill for sheriff in 2020.
Gerrian Hawes, who owns a local magazine, told Channel 2's Tom Jones there was some type of delay in her husband bonding out of the Clayton County Jail on Tuesday, which she found unusual.
“We are being mistreated and abused by a law enforcement official here in Clayton County,” Hawes told Jones.
Robert Hawes is accused of filing a false report, saying he accidently sold his county-issued service weapon to an Atlanta police officer.
Hill said that APD officer doesn't exist.
Gerrian Hawes said the charges are bogus.
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“It's because (my husband) announced he's running for sheriff and (Hill) wants to disparage the Hawes name,” she said.
Hill denies that, saying the timeline of the events doesn't support the contention he is retaliating against the Hawes family.
Hill says Hawes posted on social media that he was running for sheriff two days after Hill re-opened the investigation into two missing guns.
Gerrian Hawes points out Hill didn't charge her husband back in November and allowed him to resign.
She also questions why Hill released information about her husband writing a fake citation for an exotic dancer.
“Why didn't (Hill) when (my husband) resigned? Why didn't (Hill) bring that up then? Because (Hill's) bringing up things to disparage my husband's name,” Gerrian Hawes said.
Gerrian Hawes said Hill's tactics won't stop her husband from running.
On the slim chance it does, "If he decides he's going to stop, I'm going to run,” she said.
Hill said this is all about getting the missing guns back.
Gerrian Hawes said this has nothing to do with guns or emails. She said this is all about the sheriff using his power to attack a political opponent.
Cox Media Group
