Police Say a Prosecutor Stole Money From Crime Victims to Buy Pillows, Pillowcases, and Other Things

The Georgia Attorney General’s Office says that a county judge in Georgia has been charged with theft for using public funds to pay for personal items, such as a pillow and pillowcase she bought at Target and said were for a crime victim.

Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard was charged with 11 counts of theft by taking and 13 counts of making false statements and writings on June 18. This was reported in a news release by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. She says the accusations are false.

It was said in the report that Woodard, who is an elected official, said she used some of the money to buy things for crime victims.

The release says she bought some things with a credit card that the county gave her.

The Associated Press and WYFF 4 report that Woodard was freed without having to post bail after a court hearing on June 18.
Woodard’s lawyers, Marissa Goldberg and Drew Finding, told PEOPLE in a statement, “Ms. Woodard has been a dedicated public servant for the past 16 years, as the elected Solicitor General at large for the people of Hall County.”

“She has cared deeply about the plight of victims, especially those who have been victims of domestic violence, and has worked hard to help citizens and families, including defendants who were under her supervision, recover and stay stable.”

“I can’t understand why the Attorney General’s Office chose to charge her with this ridiculous crime. It’s a waste of court time and taxpayer money.” The GBI has been after her viciously for years even though she hasn’t done anything wrong, the statement says. It adds: “We do not say this lightly- the misguided Attorney General’s Office is utterly and provably wrong here.”

Carr detailed the accusations against Woodard in a lengthy press release about the indictment. He said, “From July 2018 to September 2022, Woodard is alleged to have illegally obtained funds from Hall County and the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia (PAC) to pay for personal and unrelated expenses on several occasions.”

According to the news release, the indictment lists a number of travel costs that Woodard is said to have gotten reimbursed for costs she had already reported to PAC or had never actually spent. “To support these purchases, the defendant is alleged to have made false statements and falsified documents, including receipts,” the court says.

“The defendant made a false statement that a receipt from the restaurant First Watch was an expense for abuse awareness and then took funds from Hall County,” the release from the Attorney General says. The crime happened in June 2022.

The release says that the defendant “used her Hall County P-Card to make a purchase related to Law School Admissions” in August 2022. “The defendant then lied and wrote that the admissions form and receipt from the Law School Admissions Council were for a victim in a local youth program.”

The release says that Woodard “lied and said that the reimbursement request was for the cremation of a dog for an old magistrate court case and then stole money from Hall County.” This happened in July 2021.

It is said that in September 2022, she “used her Hall County P-Card to make a purchase at Target.” “The defendant then wrote something false saying that a pillow and pillow case were for a victim.”

In the release, Carr said, “Those who are elected to uphold the law must act in an honest, moral, and open way; anything less weakens our system.”

“It is completely unacceptable to steal taxpayer money and then lie on paperwork to hide it.”

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation looked into this case.