June 15, 2010

COLUMBIA CTY, Ga.---Former Columbia County sheriff's deputy Gregory Key Kernaghan has been arrested again on a stalking charge.

This time the charge is aggravated stalking, a felony in Georgia that carries the possibility of prison time if convicted.

Kernaghan was arrested just after 6:15 pm Monday (June 14) at a Martinez residence. Online property records indicate that residence belongs to Gregory and Stephanie Kernaghan.

Sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris says the charge was upgraded to aggravated stalking because Kernaghan violated a condition of his bond when he was released after the earlier arrest. Morris says Kernaghan tried to contact his estranged wife directly and through another person.

Last month Kernaghan was arrested on a stalking charge after a complaint from his wife, Stephanie. At that time she indicated he was calling her up to 20 times a day. The couple is in the process of a divorce.

After the first arrest, Kernaghan was fired by the sheriff. He was a motorcycle patrol officer.