On March 2, 2016, James Shannon Dean pled guilty to one count of Theft by Taking (O.C.G.A. §16-8-2) in Stephens County Superior Court.  As part of his plea agreement, Mr. Dean was sentenced under the First Offender Act to serve 12 months probation and 80 hours community service, to pay a $750.00 fine plus court costs, and to pay $379.19 of restitution to the State of Georgia.

Between October 2014 and April 2015, Mr. Dean used his state issued fuel card to obtain gasoline for his personal use.  As the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Stephens County Chief Forest Ranger, Mr. Dean had the authority to purchase vehicle fuel with a state gas card for his state issued work vehicle.

The case was initiated based on information from the Georgia Department of Administrative Services Office of Fleet Management’s monitoring efforts.  The case was investigated by the State of Georgia Office of Inspector General Investigator Bethan Browning and the Georgia Forestry Commission Chief of Law Enforcement Brian Clavier.  District Attorney George R. Christian prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Georgia.