Former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, Richard S. Thompson, has been charged with aggravated stalking for allegedly harassing a former girlfriend following their April 2016 split.  Thompson spent one week in jail and was released on a $10,000 bond on Monday after he agreed to seek psychiatric treatment at a Florida hospital and participate in a family violence prevention program. Thompson also told the court he would have no further contact with the unidentified woman or her attorney, Donna Crossland.

Image Courtesy of Pete Bellis

“There were several attempts in and out of court to make him stop,” Crossland added. “He didn’t.  We have no intention of dropping the criminal charge.  My client has given him every opportunity to comply voluntarily, and after three court orders, she has no confidence he will comply if she were to drop the charge." A permanent protection order was signed in 2016, which included a 200-yard stay-away provision.  Just a piece of paper, Thompson apparently thought.  Crossland said his actions following signing that document proves that he would not take the situation seriously if they did not pursue charges. Crossland continued, her client's daughter was to be married on St. Simons in October 2016.  Some of the post-ceremony celebrations were to occur at a club to which Thompson belonged. Before the wedding, Thompson notified the woman that he had scheduled a golf date and dinner the same day and that, if she attended any wedding festivities, he would have her arrested for violating the protective order.  She could avoid having to go to order if she paid him $5,500.  She repeatedly receive such treatment from her ex.On Tuesday, Thompson did the Georgia law firm Levy, Thompson, Sibley & Hand a favor and resigned from his position.  "He's tendered his resignation, and we've accepted it," said Nathan Levy, his former partner.President George W. Bush had appointed Thompson to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia in 2001.  Not a stranger to having to cut his losses, he had resigned as U.S. Attorney in 2004 after a Justice Department investigation found the attorney had used his position to help a political ally in an election. A well-known public figure, Thompson was also appointed by former Governor Sonny Perdue in 2009 to serve as the chairman of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. He was chairman until 2013.   Thompson is represented by Brunswick attorney Robert Crowe, Whether he will stay good on his word this time around following the required treatment is yet to be seen.

Sources:

Former US attorney charged with aggravated stalking of ex-girlfriendFormer U.S. Attorney Charged With Aggravated Stalking