Alma Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is investigating an incident involving a former Bacon County School District employee after an internal district investigation resulted in the employee’s termination.
According to a statement from the school district, officials became aware of an incident involving an employee and initiated an internal investigation. The district said the investigation resulted in the employee’s termination.
The matter was subsequently reported to the Bacon County Schools Police Department, and the GBI was requested to assist with the investigation. The GBI confirmed to WJCL on October 12 that Bacon County Schools Police had requested its assistance and that the investigation remained active and ongoing.
Authorities have not publicly identified the former employee or disclosed the nature of the allegations. Officials also have not released information about when or where the reported incident occurred. As of October 13, Hazlehurst Now has not been able to verify any announcement of criminal charges or an arrest connected to the investigation.
Bacon County Sheriff Andy Batten also addressed questions about the investigation, explaining that the Bacon County Board of Education operates its own police department staffed by certified law enforcement officers. In an October 10th statement, Batten said the Sheriff’s Office had not been notified of the incident or asked to assist with the investigation.
He explained that the school district’s police department has jurisdiction over matters within the school system and that other law enforcement agencies generally become involved when assistance is requested. Batten also indicated that he had no reason to believe the school system was mishandling the matter.
The Bacon County School District has stated that it is fully cooperating with the GBI. Neither the district nor investigators have publicly provided further details about the circumstances of the incident.
The termination is an employment action and should not be interpreted as confirmation that a criminal offense occurred.
Hazlehurst Now will continue following this investigation and provide updates as additional verified information becomes available.
Sources: Bacon County School District statement, Bacon County Sheriff Andy Batten’s statement, and GBI confirmation reported October 12, 2026.
