GA sheriff charged with cover-up in shooting
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mon July 30, 2007
Area: Atlanta
The Towns County sheriff has been released on $250,000 bond on charges he tried cover up for his chief deputy, who is accused to shooting up the house of his wife's lover.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Sheriff Rudy Eller turned himself in at the White County Detention Center Tuesday morning. He is charged with tampering with evidence, making false statements, obstruction, hindering the apprehension of a criminal and violation of his oath of office.
According to an affidavit used to bring the charges, Gary Dean had told Eller earlier this month that he was afraid of Chief Deputy Eddie Osborn because of his relationship with Osborn's wife, Michelle. Dean reported 10 shots fired at his house in Towns County on July 9 and said he believed Osborn was responsible.
Eller asked the GBI to investigate and subsequently Osborn and Towns County Deputy Jesse Gibson were arrested.
But as the GBI was doing its investigation, Osborn tried to convince agents that he didn't have the gun linked to the bullets that had been recovered.
Osborn reportedly said the sheriff had kept the .40-caliber semi-automatic for several months and Eller backed him up.
The sheriff eventually changed his story, admitting that he did not have the gun before the shooting and he agreed to help Eller "hide it." Eller allegedly told the GBI he cleaned the gun and then used duct tape to hide it in a secret compartment in his bedroom dresser.
Eller told agents he knew who had shot at Dean's house even before he called in the GBI.
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