A former Cobb County sheriff’s deputy claimed he had multiple sclerosis — a chronic, autoimmune disease that affects the nervous system — asking the community for donations to help pay for medical costs.
But Mark Ryan Hampton didn’t have MS, according to investigators.
A Cobb grand jury indicted Hampton, 38, this week on two charges: violation of oath by public officer and violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations act, or RICO, district attorney Sonya Allen said Friday.
Allen’s office said in a statement that the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office had received several complaints about a social media account associated with Hampton, triggering an investigation that kicked off in 2021.
Hampton was arrested on June 13, 2022. He worked for the sheriff’s office for five years.
“This indictment reflects our commitment to upholding the law and ensuring that public trust is maintained,” Allen said in an emailed statement. “He betrayed that trust by deceiving others for personal gain. No one should ever feel they are above the law.”
It’s the second time in recent weeks a former Cobb deputy has been on the wrong side of the law.
In an unrelated case, the former chief of staff for Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens was found guilty Feb. 28 of lying to investigators about a crash involving his vehicle, the Cherokee County district attorney said.
Braxton Tyree Cotton, 44, of Mableton was convicted of two counts of making a false statement and representation, plus falsifying and concealing a material fact, District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway said.
About the Author
The Latest
Featured
