ALBANY DA GETS WALKER CASE

Hodges Says He'll Take 'Some Time' To Review Case File

ATLANTA - Dougherty County District Attorney Kenneth B. Hodges III of
Albany was named Monday as the prosecutor to take over the homicide case
involving the Dec. 10 fatal shooting of Kenneth B. Walker by a Muscogee
County deputy sheriff.

The appointment of Hodges, 38, was announced by Georgia Attorney General
Thurbert Baker, who received the case after Muscogee County District
Attorney Gray Conger stepped aside.

"Ken Hodges was my first choice to handle this matter," Baker said in a
news release. "I have absolute confidence in his ability to make the right
decisions."

Baker said the Albany prosecutor has demonstrated during his career "the
willingness to make the tough call in a high-profile case" and can be
expected to do the right thing, regardless of "what may be politically
expedient."

In a telephone interview, Hodges said he has received the Walker case file.
The file includes the six-volume Georgia Bureau of Investigation report of
the shooting of Walker by Deputy Sheriff David Glisson, who was fired Feb.
19 by Muscogee Sheriff Ralph Johnson.

Glisson fatally shot an unarmed Walker, 39, after a stop along Interstate
185. Before being stopped, Walker and three friends -- Warren Beaulah,
Anthony Smith and Daryl Ransom -- had been riding in a gray GMC Yukon seen
leaving Northwoods Apartments on Armour Road. The apartment was under
surveillance by Metro Narcotics Task Force agents, according to official
accounts.

The men were ordered from the vehicle by a group of Sheriff's Department
Special Response Team members called in to assist the task force. Moments
later, Walker was shot twice in the head. He was pronounced dead about four
hours later at The Medical Center.

Hodges offered no estimate of how long it would take him to prepare the
case. He said he expects it will take "some time" to complete his review of
the Walker file.

"I'll review the file and meet with the victim's family," he said. "Of
course, I'll also discuss possible options with defense lawyers, but it's
too early to make a decision as to what will happen.

Hodges said he cannot say whether he will take the case to a grand jury. If
that happens, it will go before the Muscogee County grand jury in Columbus,
he said.

Hodges won't be working the case alone. Dougherty Chief Assistant District
Attorney Greg Edwards will assist, Hodges said.

Conger praised the attorney general for choosing Hodges, calling his fellow
district attorney an "excellent choice" to handle the controversial case.

Conger stepped aside from the case Feb. 20, hours after receiving the GBI
report on Walker's death. Conger said at the time that he wanted to avoid
the appearance of bias or favoritism.

Conger said he is confident in Hodge's ability.

"He's a very fine district attorney and recently had a big role in the case
against the former sheriff in Dekalb County and that conviction," Conger
said. "We're lucky to have him on this case."

Glisson's attorney, Richard Hagler, said he respects Hodges' past work.

"I have dealt with Mr. Hodges before in a professional capacity and have
every respect for him," Hagler said. "I look forward to working with him."