Stephanie Woodard, former solicitor general of Hall County, entered a guilty plea to a single misdemeanor charge of unprofessional conduct after a plea agreement was reached, reducing her prior indictment from two dozen felony counts. According to AccessWDUN, the conditions of the deal included Woodard's immediate resignation, which took place on August 9, along with a waived indictment by a grand jury, an arraignment, and any objection to the statute of limitations.
Woodard's plea results in a sentence of 12 months probation which will be suspended upon the full payment of $2,219.28 in restitution, mishandling her charges by requesting more cost than entitled by law in her official capacity. Of this amount, $1,190.48 is due to the prosecuting attorneys council while Hall County receives the remaining $1,028.80. Douglas County Judge David Emerson, who presided over the case, granted Woodard sentencing as a First Offender, thus recommending the 12-month probationary period. "Yes your honor I have maintained that I made mistakes in office from the beginning," Woodard told FOX 5 Atlanta during the proceedings.
The criminal investigation into Woodard's conduct was initiated following an I-Team investigation which revealed misappropriation of funds intended for victim support. Items such as expensive earbuds, noise-reducing headphones, and personal expenditures including meals and SAT prep courses were improperly claimed as official spending. The case brought to light a blatant misuse of public funds, attracting criticism from ethics experts and prompting the involvement of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
Upon entering the guilty plea, Attorney General Chris Carr issued a statement condemning Woodard's actions, highlighting the betrayal of public trust. "Mrs. Woodard took advantage of our state by violating the same laws that she was elected to uphold," Carr stated, emphasizing the importance of holding elected officials accountable. In response to senior Assistant Attorney General Laura Pfister's inquiry about her satisfaction with her legal representation during the plea hearing, Woodard affirmed her confidence, saying, "Very much so."
