Sheriff John Bowens has a hearing scheduled for Friday to determine whether or not he will be held in contempt of court for disobeying a judge's order. Bowens says he had no choice because he was understaffed
The Terrell County Sheriff is facing jail time for contempt of court, but Sheriff John Bowens says he did nothing wrong.
Superior Court Judge Ronnie Joe Lane is holding Terrell County Sheriff John Bowens in contempt. Lane ordered Bowens to bring four inmates to the courthouse on February 17, but Bowens only brought two. Bowens now has a hearing scheduled for Friday at the Terrell County Courthouse.
Bowens says he has two deputies working every shift, and only one can bring inmates to court. He says they can only bring two at a time.
If the sheriff is found guilty on Friday he could find himself locked up in the jail he oversees, watched over by the people he oversees. He faces up to 20 days in jail.
“The fact was, I just couldn’t fulfill it, and if he gives me 20 days in jail, I”ll just have to take the days in jail,” Bowens said. “If I’ve done what’s right then there’s nothing else that I could do.”
The hearing starts at 9 a.m. Friday.
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