Glorious Georgia official stole public money intended for crime victims to go on bizarre shopping spree

A beloved Georgia prosecutor has pleaded guilty to stealing public funds intended to aid crime victims and purchasing oddball items such as antique baseball caps. 

Former Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard has admitted to taking money from the county and the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia on August 30. 

She was convicted of using the Local Victim Assistance Programs (LVAP) fund to expend a number of her personal costs including travels, antique shopping, jewelry repairs and most notably her dog’s cremation.

Attorney General Chris Carr said in an official release: ‘Mrs. Woodard took advantage of our state by violating the same laws that she was elected to uphold. 

‘She has now been held accountable for her actions. Our office will always follow the law, the facts and the evidence to ensure justice for all Georgians.’

Woodard has been sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay $1,190.48 in restitution to PAC and $1,028.80 to Hall County. 

As part of her plea deal, the disgraced attorney has also resigned from her role as Hall County Solicitor General. 

According to FOX5, Woodard had spent $352.03 at Best Buy for a set of noise-canceling headphones and another $160.49 for a pair of Elite 7 Active earbuds. 

Some of her other expenses include spending $96.30 for 10 baseball caps embroidered with the number 83, $168.33 at Out Of Cedar Antiques and $109.34 for various home items including a garden gnome. 

Woodard has been sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay $1,190.48 in restitution to PAC and $1,028.80 to Hall County

She was convicted of using the Local Victim Assistance Programs (LVAP) fund to expend a number of her personal costs including travels, antique shopping, jewelry repairs and most notably her dog’s cremation

She also used her county-issued purchase card to pay $1,430 for an SAT prep course. 

In July 2021, Woodard utilized the funds to pay for her dog’s cremation at Precious Memories, a pet crematory in nearby White County. 

Owner Rick Farmer later revealed that he knew of no crime victim who owed him for a pet cremation and after he began checking his records, discovered that the process was for Woodard’s own dog. 

The former public official had used her personal credit card, then submitted the expense to the county. 

She also used her county-issued purchase card to pay $1,430 for an SAT prep course

The reimbursement check she received was marked as ‘CREMATION OF DOG’, according to the publication. 

Chris Hosey, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said after the sentencing: ‘Hall County citizens entrusted Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard to serve the community with honesty and integrity. However, Woodard betrayed that trust for her personal gain. 

‘The GBI is committed to thoroughly investigating cases like this and ensuring accountability.’ 

Since she was sentenced under Georgia’s First Offender Act, her record will be wiped clean if she successfully fulfills her probation.