HIAWASSEE – Suspended Towns County Sheriff Ken Henderson has waived arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty to the seven criminal charges he is facing, per court paperwork.
His attorneys filed the paperwork with the Towns County Superior Court on Wednesday, Jan. 14, thereby foregoing the need for the formal arraignment proceeding that was scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26, inside the Towns County Courthouse.
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As previously reported, Henderson has been charged with three counts violation of oath by a public officer, one count false imprisonment under color of law, one count false imprisonment – all felonies – plus two misdemeanors, simple battery and simple battery on a police officer.
The charges stem from Henderson’s alleged actions the morning of Dec. 13, 2024, when he and a Hiawassee Police Officer got into a heated confrontation before Henderson placed the city officer under arrest at the shooting scene of former Sheriff’s Deputy Austin Bradburn.
Given the high-profile nature of criminal charges being brought against a sitting sheriff, the case is expected to be expedited. Gov. Brian Kemp has formally suspended Henderson from his law enforcement duties pending an outcome in the case.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
