TIFTON — Tift County’s former network operations manager won’t be prosecuted on May 2008 charges of computer invasion of privacy. The case of one of his employees who faces the same charge is ongoing.
Jeffrey Lamar Flynt, who was the county’s network operations manager, and Braxton Wayne Driskell, who worked for Flynt, each faced the same felony charge. Driskell’s case is still pending.
District Attorney Paul Bowden dismissed the charge against Flynt. The GBI investigated the case and turned the findings over to Bowden.
“While I may have some issues, the county administrator at the time (Bill Park) said that he had authorized Flynt and Driskell in their IT capacities to access e-mails,” Bowden said. “He (Park) viewed it as part of their jobs to access e-mails to ensure that the system wasn’t being abused.”
A “Dismissal” on file in the office of the clerk of superior court states that “Although probable cause existed for the issuance of the warrant, it appears that the parties have entered into an agreement regarding the disposition of the charge set forth in the above referenced warrant, and the interests of justice are best served by refraining from prosecuting said offense. Therefore, in the interests of justice, the above styled and numbered warrant is hereby dismissed.” The dismissal on Flynt’s case was filed June 18.
A human resources board ruled in January that Flynt’s firing should stand. Driskell has yet to have a hearing before that board.
“It has been scheduled but conflicts have kept it from happening,” said Jim Carter, the county’s manager.
Flynt and Driskell were released from their jobs on “investigatory suspension with pay” a week after they were arrested. Carter said neither Flynt nor Driskell were currently receiving county pay. Carter confirmed that the Georgia Department of Labor ruled that Flynt should receive unemployment. Attempts to contact Flynt and Driskell were not successful.
Bowden said he had discussed the case with Tommy Pittman, Driskell’s attorney, but that scheduling difficulties have thus far kept Driskell’s case from being resolved.
“His (Driskell’s) situation is a little bit different than Flynt’s, but I expect it will probably be resolved,” Bowden said. “I doubt there will be a trial.”
Bowden said the investigation into the Flynt and Driskell cases had not produced information leading to the investigation of any other county employees or county elected officials.
According to the affidavit on the warrant for Flynt’s arrest, the GBI’s accusation read, “Jeff Flynt did use a computer or computer network for the purposes of examining a memo concerning interdepartmental lack of communication contained on the Tift County computer system, with knowledge that such examination was without authority and in violation of O.C.G.A. 16-9-93(c) Computer Invasion of Privacy.”
To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.
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