HALL COUNTY, Ga. — A Georgia prosecutor pleaded guilty after prosecutors accused her of stealing from her county and the Prosecuting Attorney's Council of Georgia to cover travel, personal and unrelated expenses, according to Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr.
Stephanie Woodard, solicitor general of Hall County out of Gainesville, pleaded guilty to unprofessional conduct and was sentenced to 12 months probation, the attorney general's office said in a press release.
“Mrs. Woodard took advantage of our state by violating the same laws that she was elected to uphold," Carr said. “She has now been held accountable for her actions. Our office will always follow the law, the facts and the evidence to ensure justice for all Georgians.”
Because of her guilty plea, if Woodard adheres to the terms of her probation, she wouldn't need to serve any additional time in jail.
The Attorney General's Office says Woodard was indicted on 11 counts of theft by taking and 13 counts of false statements.
They say between July 2019 and September 2022 Woodard stole on multiple occasions, including obtaining reimbursement for expenses previously submitted to the other agency or for expenses that had never happened.
They alleged she falsified records — including receipts — in order to get unlawful reimbursements.
Woodard pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of unprofessional conduct, a misdemeanor, instead of the theft charges. As part of her plea, they say Woodard was required to resign as solicitor general, which was effective as of Aug. 9, 2024.
She was also required to pay $1,190.48 to the Georgia Prosecuting Attorney's Council and $1,028.90 to Hall County, the press release said.
Woodard was booked into the Hall County Jail on June 18. The GBI helped investigate the case, and the Attorney General's White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit prosecuted the case.
