EFFINGHAM DEPUTY CHARGED IN MARIJUANA STING

Drug Agents Nab The Effingham County Rookie In A Parking Lot.

SPRINGFIELD - An Effingham County Sheriff's Office deputy was arrested
Tuesday night after buying marijuana from an undercover drug agent.

Melinda Stewart Johnson of Statesboro remained in the Effingham County Jail
Thursday afternoon on charges of possession of marijuana, criminal
solicitation, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime,
Sheriff Jimmy Duffie said.

The sheriff said some of his deputies were surprised by the arrest but did
not hesitate to build the case against Johnson.

"Me, my deputies, everyone in this office, we will not tolerate police
corruption," said McDuffie.

The investigation was started only days before the arrest, when drug agents
at the sheriff's department received information that Johnson was involved
in buying marijuana.

Deputies responded by setting up a sting operation in the parking lot of
the IGA supermarket at Ga. 119 and Ga. 17 in downtown Guyton.

Deputies said Johnson approached an undercover drug agent in the parking
lot, asked for marijuana and then paid him. Johnson joined the Effingham
sheriff's department about seven months ago and was still on probationary
status at the time of her arrest, said Capt. Mike Bohannon, commander of
the criminal investigations division.

Johnson was a patrol officer and recently served as a bailiff during the
murder trial of DeAnthony Griffin.

But Bohannon said, "Her performance had not been up to par."

Bohannon said deputies acted in a professional manner throughout the
investigation.

"If you break the law, you go to jail," said Bohannon.

"We're not going to hide anything. We're not going to turn our heads when
we see someone breaking the law, whether they are a police officer or
anybody else."

A court date has not been set.