FORMER FULTON DEPUTY SHERIFF PLEADS GUILTY TO THEFT

Michael Anthony Buck Looked the Other Way at His Part-Time Security Job

Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces the conviction by guilty plea of former Fulton County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Anthony Buck. Buck pleaded guilty today to one count of felony theft by taking and one count of violation of oath by a public officer before Superior Court Judge Constance Russell.

In June of 2002, the defendant was working a part-time security job at Kilroy's Package Store in College Park when an employee alerted the owners that cases of liquor were being stolen. The owners-though paying Buck to provide security-hired a private investigator to find out what was going on. The defendant was arrested by College Park police when an investigation revealed he was "looking the other way" while a store manager and the manager's friend stole merchandise. Those co-defendants pled guilty to misdemeanor theft by taking charges and were prepared to testify against the former deputy.

Buck subsequently resigned from the Sheriff's Department. Today, Judge Russell sentenced the 50-year-old Riverdale resident to one year's probation and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $3200.00. The defendant must perform 40 hours of community service and surrender his law enforcement certification.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant ADAs Kellie Stevens Hill and Peter Odom of the Public Integrity Unit of the Fulton District Attorney's Office. Retired College Park Police Department Lieutenant Ronnie Cupp along with Tracy Brumfield and Nathanial Clark of the DA's Office investigated.

CONTACT: Lyn Vaughn, 404.730.6860 (office); 770.597.6963 (cell); lyn.vaughn@co.fulton.ga.us