An allegation involving her own personal, family business against Shirley Sosebee, 63, of Mobile Road, led to her arrest two weeks ago on two felony charges.
Sosebee, Fannin County’s tax commissioner since first being elected in 2012, is charged with forgery in the first degree and violation of oath by public officer.
Warrants containing the allegations against Sosebee were sworn out by Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Agent Cliff Tippens and signed by Superior Court Judge John Worcester Thursday, March 5.
Both warrants allege Sosebee forged the signature of Raymond White Jr. on a single document sometime between Nov. 6 and Nov. 8, 2019. Authorities have identified White as Sosebee’s brother.
Sosebee was taken into custody Thursday afternoon shortly after 4 p.m. An hour after her arrest, jail records show she was released from the Fannin County Adult Detention Center under a $10,000 bond.
Fannin County Sheriff Dane Kirby said, “A complaint was filed by the victim to the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office that the signature on a deed to transfer title on a parcel of real estate had been forged.
“After a brief inquiry by the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, the GBI was requested to conduct the formal investigation.”
Kirby said that brief inquiry, “Determined the complaint against the tax commissioner did not involve the operations of the tax commissioner’s office, but involved personal, family business.”
Sosebee had just announced her candidacy to seek re-election to a third, four-year term as tax commissioner, and had qualified to appear on the Republican General Primary ballot May 19.
Fannin County Election Supervisor Mary Ann Conner confirmed Friday afternoon, March 6, Sosebee had withdrawn from the race.
In the bond conditions set by Judge Worcester, Sosebee is not allowed access to the tax commissioner’s office until further order of the court.