Former Superintendent Wilson arrested for theft in Pickens
News April 21, 2022JASPER, Ga. – Warrants were served for the arrest of of Pickens County Schools’ former Superintendent Dr. Carlton Keith Wilson on charges that include both Theft by Deception and Theft by Taking.
The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and the Adult Detention Center have release the arrest records and warrants on Wilson, who was held in custody on $5,000 bail. Allegations say that these thefts occurred between November 2021 through January 2022. Dr. Wilson became Superintendent of Pickens Schools in May of 2017. He later resigned amid numerous emergency meetings called by the Board of Education in December 2019.
According to the warrants, in May 2020, Wilson served as the Victim Witness Coordinator for the Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. This came with an annual salary of $42,500. In September 2021, the Pickens Board of Commissioners (BOC) approved a Shared Leave Policy allowing employees to donate unused leave time into a Shared Leave Bank. Also in September 2021, the documents state that Wilson sustained injuries in a car accident. Fully expending his own leave, he applied to receive donated leave hours through the Share Leave Bank and was approved.
During his leave, he allegedly began going to the Appalachian Gun Range, a business he owns with a partner and at which he was a firearms instructor. Detectives have investigated the business’ bank records stating that proceeds from the courses “are essential to the success of the company.” In January 2022, Wilson requested additional leave until April 2022, saying his doctor would not release him to work and that he had blood clots in his lungs and leg.
According to the Detectives investigation, during the approved leave time that lasted through January, they state that approximately 138 individuals took courses at the range. The warrants state that Wilson said he taught most of those courses. Under the charge of Theft by Deception, it is noted that Wilson received over $6,300 in payroll checks through the Shared Leave Bank. They go on to state that these payroll checks were deposited into a private account which they allege were used “almost solely for online gambling activities or to pay gambling debts.”
The warrants go on to note the Theft by Taking Offense as Wilson’s alleged operations through Scouts of Hill City Inc. (SHC Inc.), a non-profit organization. As an individual looked to donate 10 acres of land to the Boy Scouts of America in 2009 and were referred to Wilson, the land was eventually donated to Hill City Elementary PTO Inc. with the expressed intent to be used solely to benefit the Boy Scouts in Pickens County.
After BSA Troop 288 disbanded in 2015 and Cub Scout Pack 288 disbanded in 2016, the land was deeded to SHC Inc. in 2018. In 2021, SHC Inc. re-registered with Georgia’s Secretary of State with Wilson as the CEO. The land was split into two tracts and sold in September 2021 for $14,000 each with the funds, minus closing costs, deposited into the SHC Inc. accounts. The warrants state that this money was then used through checks written, payments to personal credit cards, and cashback to Wilson in order to fund “his participation in online gambling activities and payments of debts derived from online gambling activities.
According to documentation, that alleged activity included $1,520 cashback on September 9, 2021, a check for $9,000 on September 10, 2021, a check for $5,000 on September 21, 2021, a check for $5,000 on October 10, 2021, a direct electronic payment to a personal credit card for $5,000 on November 1, 2021, and a check for $900 on December 1, 2021.
These charges were filed with the Superior Court of Pickens County on April 19, 2022. See the full documents of these arrest warrants linked.
Shooting suspect transported back to Pickens
News January 21, 2022JASPER, Ga. – Yesterday, January 20, 2022, a person opened fire near the dollar general in the Golden Springs area of Pickens County. A press release from the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed the arrest of Nathan Lewis Highsmith, 26, years old of Canton, Georgia, in regards to the shooting
Today, Pickens Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Hannah Wise confirmed with FYN that the shooting suspect, Highsmith (pictured above), has been transferred into Pickens County from the Sandy Springs Police Department. The Sheriff’s release noted that Highsmith allegedly fled the scene in a Honda Accord and was later arrested by Sandy Spring Police.
Wise also confirmed that the Sheriff’s Office currently believes the incident to be a solitary one with Highsmith acting alone, but asserted that the Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the incident. Officer Wise stated that they have not confirmed the motive behind the shooting either.
As an ongoing investigation, the Sheriff’s Office is not releasing detailed information such as if the victims knew Highsmith or other possible connections. Additionally, as a part of the ongoing investigation, the Sheriff’s Office has contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to assist as well. The GBI has not released a statement about the investigation at all.
The shooting claimed one life and there was no update available to the public on the second victim from Wise today. As of now, the charges still stand at Aggravated Assault and Felony Murder. Wise confirmed that as of January 21, 2022, Highsmith is still in custody and has not been released on bail.
Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Report 12/27 – 1/3
Arrest Reports, Police & Government January 5, 2021Arrest report and photos provided by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. 50-18-70) allows for FetchYourNews.com to obtain and post the arrest records of any and all individuals arrested in Pickens County. Those arrests are posted on FetchYourNews.com for viewing pleasure. Please remember that all individuals listed have been arrested and charged, however, they are presumed innocent until guilt has been proven in a court of law.
Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Report 12/21 – 12/27
Arrest Reports, Police & Government December 29, 2020Arrest report and photos provided by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. 50-18-70) allows for FetchYourNews.com to obtain and post the arrest records of any and all individuals arrested in Pickens County. Those arrests are posted on FetchYourNews.com for viewing pleasure. Please remember that all individuals listed have been arrested and charged, however, they are presumed innocent until guilt has been proven in a court of law.
Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Report 12/14 – 12/20
Arrest Reports, Police & Government December 22, 2020Arrest report and photos provided by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. 50-18-70) allows for FetchYourNews.com to obtain and post the arrest records of any and all individuals arrested in Pickens County. Those arrests are posted on FetchYourNews.com for viewing pleasure. Please remember that all individuals listed have been arrested and charged, however, they are presumed innocent until guilt has been proven in a court of law.
Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Report 12/6 – 12/13
Arrest Reports, Police & Government December 15, 2020Arrest report and photos provided by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. 50-18-70) allows for FetchYourNews.com to obtain and post the arrest records of any and all individuals arrested in Pickens County. Those arrests are posted on FetchYourNews.com for viewing pleasure. Please remember that all individuals listed have been arrested and charged, however, they are presumed innocent until guilt has been proven in a court of law.
Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Report 11/30 – 12/5
Arrest Reports, Police & Government December 8, 2020Arrest report and photos provided by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. 50-18-70) allows for FetchYourNews.com to obtain and post the arrest records of any and all individuals arrested in Pickens County. Those arrests are posted on FetchYourNews.com for viewing pleasure. Please remember that all individuals listed have been arrested and charged, however, they are presumed innocent until guilt has been proven in a court of law.
Pickens County Man Arrested for the Sexual Exploitation of Children
News, Press Release December 4, 2020Jasper, GA (December 3, 2020) – On Wednesday, December 2, 2020, Pickens County resident, Christopher Blackstone, age 41, was charged with (3) counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children (Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material) in violation of O.C.G.A 16-12-100(b)(8) by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit. The GBI CEACC Unit began an investigation into Blackstone’s online activity after receiving a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the upload of suspected child pornography by Blackstone via the internet. A search of Blackstone’s home and electronic devices produced evidence that led to the arrest of Blackstone on December 2, 2020.
Blackstone is currently in custody at the Pickens County Jail.
This investigation is part of the ongoing effort by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, housed within the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, to identify those involved in the child pornography trade. The ICAC Program, created by the U. S. Department of Justice, was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the Internet, the proliferation of child pornography, and the heightened online activity by predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims.
Anyone with information about other cases of child exploitation is asked to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Unit at 404-270-8870.
Tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Report 11/23 – 11/29
Arrest Reports, Police & Government December 1, 2020Arrest report and photos provided by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. 50-18-70) allows for FetchYourNews.com to obtain and post the arrest records of any and all individuals arrested in Pickens County. Those arrests are posted on FetchYourNews.com for viewing pleasure. Please remember that all individuals listed have been arrested and charged, however, they are presumed innocent until guilt has been proven in a court of law.
Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Report 11/16 – 11/22
Arrest Reports, Police & Government November 24, 2020Arrest report and photos provided by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. 50-18-70) allows for FetchYourNews.com to obtain and post the arrest records of any and all individuals arrested in Pickens County. Those arrests are posted on FetchYourNews.com for viewing pleasure. Please remember that all individuals listed have been arrested and charged, however, they are presumed innocent until guilt has been proven in a court of law.
Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Report 11/9 – 11/15
Arrest Reports, Police & Government November 17, 2020Arrest report and photos provided by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. 50-18-70) allows for FetchYourNews.com to obtain and post the arrest records of any and all individuals arrested in Pickens County. Those arrests are posted on FetchYourNews.com for viewing pleasure. Please remember that all individuals listed have been arrested and charged, however, they are presumed innocent until guilt has been proven in a court of law.
Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Report 11/2 – 11/8
Arrest Reports, Police & Government November 10, 2020Arrest report and photos provided by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. 50-18-70) allows for FetchYourNews.com to obtain and post the arrest records of any and all individuals arrested in Pickens County. Those arrests are posted on FetchYourNews.com for viewing pleasure. Please remember that all individuals listed have been arrested and charged, however, they are presumed innocent until guilt has been proven in a court of law.
Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Report 10/26 – 11/1
Arrest Reports, Police & Government November 3, 2020Arrest report and photos provided by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. 50-18-70) allows for FetchYourNews.com to obtain and post the arrest records of any and all individuals arrested in Pickens County. Those arrests are posted on FetchYourNews.com for viewing pleasure. Please remember that all individuals listed have been arrested and charged, however, they are presumed innocent until guilt has been proven in a court of law.
Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Report 10/19 -10/25
Arrest Reports, Police & Government October 27, 2020Arrest report and photos provided by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. 50-18-70) allows for FetchYourNews.com to obtain and post the arrest records of any and all individuals arrested in Pickens County. Those arrests are posted on FetchYourNews.com for viewing pleasure. Please remember that all individuals listed have been arrested and charged, however, they are presumed innocent until guilt has been proven in a court of law.