Ex-sheriff, son-in-law arrested in beating

Former Oglethorpe County Sheriff William "Ray" Sanders and his son-in-law face assault charges for allegedly beating another man with a baseball bat last month at Sanders' daughter's home in Comer.

Sanders, 71, and Steven Bryant Hill, 34, each were charged with aggravated assault after an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Oglethorpe County Sheriff Mike Smith said.

The men surrendered to authorities at the county jail last week; Sanders was released on a $20,000 bond and Hill was released on a $40,000 bond, the sheriff said.

Smith would not discuss the case, explaining he once worked as a deputy under Ray Sanders - who did not run for re-election in 2000 after 16 years as Oglethorpe County's sheriff - and that he asked the GBI to investigate to remove any appearance of conflict of interest.

Jim Fullington, special agent in charge of the GBI's Athens office, only would say the investigation determined Hill had assaulted Justin Griffith of Lexington and that Ray Sanders was a "party to the crime."

Under state law, someone who urges or helps another to commit a crime can be charged with that crime.

According to a deputy's report, Griffith and his son were visiting with Ray Sanders' daughter, Dale, the night of May 15. Her husband and father showed up, and Ray Sanders pointed at Griffith and told Hill to "kill that son of a bitch," according to Griffith's account to deputies.

Hill struck him in the head with a baseball bat, Griffith said, and Ray Sanders grabbed Griffith's son, pulled him to the door and pushed him down steps, according to the report.

Griffith's son helped his father to their truck and they drove away, according to the report.

Dale