THOMASVILLE — A six-count indictment returned Thursday on Thomasville Mayor Greg Hobbs stated the defendant violated his 2018 oath of office when he knowingly made a false crime report later in the year.

Hobbs was unopposed for his Thomasville City Council seat in 2017. He took the oath of office for a second four-year term on Jan. 8, 2018. On the same date, he was re-elected by the council to a second two-year term as mayor.

According to the indictment, on June 7, 2018, Hobbs falsely reported the crime of forgery to Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Matt Marchant.

Hobbs “did willfully and intentionally” violate the terms of his oath of office when he reported the forgery of his signature on a payroll document, the indictment stated.

A making false statement charge resulted when Hobbs told the GBI agent the document was not signed by him, but was a stamped facsimile of his signature placed on the document by others without his authorization and consent.

Another making a false statement count stated that on Jan. 24, 2019, Hobbs said the lump sum payment was placed on the payroll document after Hobbs signed it, when, in fact, the lump sum was on the City of Thomasville document when Hobbs signed it, according to the indcitment.

The indictment shows grand jury members found that Hobbs’ Jan. 24, 2019, statement to the GBI was a violation of oath by public officer.

Hobbs was indicted on three counts of violation of oath by public officer. The crime is a felony with a maximum punishment of one to five years in prison and a $1,000 fine.

The mayor was indicted on two counts of making a false statement, a felony, which also has a maximum sentence of one to five years in prison and a $1,000 fine.

False report of a crime, a misdemeanor, carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $500 fine. 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820