October 10, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga --Richmond County deputy Ronnie Collins was fired this morning from the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Strength says he fired Deputy Ronnie Collins for not being honest with the sheriff's office about his questionable behavior before he was rehired.

That behavior centers around an alleged sex scandal at Spirit Creek Middle School last year.

Louis Svehla, Public Information Director with the Richmond County School System, says the investigation is still ongoing into the allegations that faculty and staff members had sex in the school last school year during school hours.

Collins worked as a Public Safety Officer at Spirit Creek Middle School with the Richmond County School system until April of this year, when he resigned and went back to work at the Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Strength says the Sheriff's Office did not find out about the investigation until they were notified by the school board last week.

Louis Svehla talked with News 12 about where the investigation stands now. "The thing that makes is a story with us and why there is an investigation is that it did happen potentially and alleged on school grounds.. Board property is board property. It's not considered the privacy of your home or your off time."

Richmond County Internal Affairs says Collins had worked on and off for the Sheriff's Office for four and a half years and had had no other disciplinary problems until now.

News 12 went to Ronnie Collins' home today for comment and for his side of the story, but no one answered.

We do know he worked as a Public Safety Officer for Richmond County for six years.

The alleged scandal didn't make waves until an e-mail was sent to the school system this school year.

"Allegedly, whenever it happened, whether it was during school hours, if it was weekends, at night, whenever it happened if it's on board property, it becomes a board concern." says Svehla.

The investigation was supposed to be wrapped up this week, but the investigator assigned to the case says he needs more time to question more people.

Svehla, "The fact that any of this could potentially have some truth behind it, it's bad for everybody, not just the students but they certainly are our main concern."

Dr. Dana Bedden tells News 12 if any current employees are found guilty they too, may lose their job.

Internal Affairs says Sheriff Ronnie Strength made the decision this morning and, in accordance to protocol, Chief Deputy Sid Hatfield was the one to fire Collins.

So far, Ronnie Collins is the only person implicated who has been punished.