GBI still probing Baldwin Co. Superior Court Clerk’s Office

Published 12:00 pm Tuesday, May 16, 2023

New information has surfaced amid the ongoing Georgia Bureau of Investigation investigation into possible criminal wrongdoing within the Baldwin County Superior Court Clerk’s Office in Milledgeville.

The GBI was called in to investigate the office earlier this year.

Former court official Kimberly Murphy Brown, who had served as chief deputy clerk for the past several years, resigned her position shortly after allegations surfaced.

Brown worked in the Baldwin County Superior Court Clerk’s Office from June 25, 2007, until March 13, 2023, according to personnel records recently obtained by The Union-Recorder under the Georgia Open Records Act.

The newspaper also requested and received a copy of Brown’s resignation letter. It was dated March 10, 2023. The resignation letter was addressed to Baldwin County Superior Court Clerk Mitch Longino, who has been away from the office for several weeks for undisclosed reasons. Attempts to reach him by phone and social media have been unsuccessful.

“It is with great regret that I wish to tender my resignation from the clerk’s office,” Brown wrote. “I have enjoyed my time working for the clerk’s office, and would like to thank everyone for all the help and support, which I have received.”

Mary Chandler, special agent in-charge of the GBI Region 6 Office in Milledgeville, has confirmed that no arrests have taken place as part of the investigation. In previous interviews, she has indicated that it was still not known whether or not the case will lead to criminal charges.

“Right now, all I can tell you is that the investigation is still ongoing,” Chandler said.

Several employees who work in the Baldwin County Superior Court Clerk’s Office have been questioned related to the independent probe being conducted by the GBI’s Office of Special Investigations out of its Decatur headquarters.

Brown’s letter of resignation indicated that her last day with the office would be March 24, 2023.

“I would be happy to meet with you at your convenience to discuss the transition of my duties to my successor,” Brown said in the letter. A copy of Brown’s separation notice, which also was obtained by the newspaper, mentioned the circumstances of her separation from Baldwin County as a government employee.

“Clerk’s office was under investigation by GBI, and so was the clerk of courts — employee resigned,” according to the document, which is on file with the Georgia Department of Labor.

Repeated attempts by the newspaper to reach Brown have been unsuccessful.

Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney T. Wright Barksdale III said in a previously published article that appeared in The Union-Recorder that he had received credible information concerning allegations of possible wrongdoing within the office and asked the GBI to investigate.

Before the district attorney recused himself and all members of his staff from the probe, Barksdale said he had requested the GBI investigate allegations concerning sentencing documents, court orders and other official documents that reportedly were inappropriately filed, not filed and altered.

“I have a good faith basis to believe this has potentially impacted defendants’ rights, criminal histories, and/or parole eligibility,” Barksdale said at the time.

Barksdale said there were efforts on the part of at least one staff member in the clerk’s office “to mislead one of our Superior Court judges.”