Post 2 County Commission Candidate Courtney Dillard said he would be continuing his campaign and responding soon to information printed by the News about past charges. A 2006 Newton County warrant on Dillard for deposit account fraud was recalled in Newton County Magistrate Court on Tuesday morning after Dillard claimed his name had been forged on a fraudulent check.
Dillard had previously faced charges of cocaine possession in Fulton County in 2004, which was dismissed after prosecutors failed to file paperwork in a timely manner, and battery of a minor, which was effectively struck from his record after he fulfilled sentencing requirements of 40 hours community service and conflict resolution class.
The arrest warrant for felony deposit account fraud, previously reported by the News, was issued in Sept. 27, 2006 after a $700 check with Dillard's signed name, issued under Dillard-Winecoff, LLC, and made out to Erick Mathis, was brought to Covington Check Cashing on Ga. Highway 278 on May 12, 2006.The Magistrate Court reportedly recalls warrants for such charges automatically after a claim of fraud. Investigation would proceed at the fraud victim’s request.
Along with an affidavit of forgery, Dillard also filed a copy of a 2006 Conyers Police Department incident report where Dillard was listed as the victim of a forgery attempt after someone had attempted to cash a fraudulent check with his name. In that incident, Deborah Lee Robinson had reportedly tried to cash a $700 check, issued by Dillard-Winecoff, at the Sigman Bottle Shop on May 13, 2006. The account reportedly did not exist and the check had too few numbers to be legitimate. Robinson said that was the first paycheck she had received from her employer for cleaning services, and that a white male with blond hair had written that check and two other checks.
Dillard said he was holding his comments but would be responding soon to the information reported by the News.
"I am not at liberty to respond to anything regarding the campaign," he said.
When asked if his campaign was continuing, Dillard replied, "Of course."
