Judge Solicits Sex, Cop Plants Drugs in Woman's Car

When a woman complained that a local judge made sexual advances, a county sheriff's captain, Michael Henderson, thought it would be a good idea to set the woman up on false drug possession charges.....
The Judge, Bryant Cochran, was accused of soliciting sex from the woman.  Judge Cochran allegedly told the woman that he needed a mistress, and that she should return wearing a dress but no underwear. The cop also pled guilty to obstruction and to tampering with a witness.  Judge Cochran, a chief magistrate judge, subsequently admitted to pre-signing warrants, and he ultimately resigned from the bench.

CLICK HERE TO READ The Chattanooga Times March 27, 2013 dated story, "Ex-Murray captiain pleads to federal charge in drug arrest" 

CLICK HERE TO READ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution March 27, 2013 dated story, "Ex-deputy pleads guilty in wrongful arrest case."

CLICK HERE TO READ WRBTV report, "North Georgia judge resigns amid judicial inquiry."

HERE'S THE FBI PRESS RELEASE:

Former Murray County Sheriff's Captain Pleads Guilty to Obstructing Investigation

U.S. Attorney's Office  -  Northern District of Georgia  -  March 27, 2013

ROME, GA—Michael Henderson pleaded guilty today to obstructing a pending civil rights investigation by tampering with a witness while employed as a Murray County Sheriff’s captain. “Mr. Henderson violated both the law and the public’s trust when he lied to his fellow law enforcement officers and obstructed a civil rights investigation,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “Bottom line, the citizens of Murray County at minimum deserve police officers who obey the laws that they have sworn to enforce.”

“The citizens of this state should have every expectation that those who serve do so with integrity and within the bounds of the law,” said Mark F. Giuliano, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office. “The conduct of this now former law enforcement officer, as presented in this case, was clearly not within those standards and the FBI will continue to work with its law enforcement partners in ensuring that the public’s trust is well deserved.” “The state of Georgia will not tolerate criminal activity by those officials with the duty to enforce its laws,” said Vernon Keenan, GBI Director. According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court, sometime in July 2012, then-Captain Henderson received information that a white Dodge vehicle was being used to carry drugs. He passed this information along to other deputies with the Murray County Sheriff’s Office.

Henderson and separately charged former Deputy Sheriff Joshua L. Greeson participated in a traffic stop of the white Dodge car on August 14, 2012. During the stop, Greeson found methamphetamine in a metal can hidden under the wheel well of the car. After finding the drugs, they arrested the driver and owner/passenger of the vehicle. Shortly thereafter, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) received information that the drugs had been planted on the vehicle by another individual in an attempt to falsely implicate the car’s owner. As a result, the state drug charges against the owner of the white Dodge were dismissed. On August 22, 2012, agents from the GBI interviewed Henderson in connection with a civil rights investigation. During the interview, Henderson falsely stated to the GBI agents that he had never told any other members of the Murray County Sheriff’s Office that he had received information that the white Dodge was allegedly carrying drugs. As stated above, Henderson had, in fact, received information that the white Dodge vehicle carried controlled substances. On August 31, 2012, Henderson was fired from the Sheriff’s Office.

Henderson, 41, of Murray County, Georgia, could receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. However, in determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders. Sentencing is scheduled for May 31, 2013, at 1:30 p.m., before United States District Judge Harold L. Murphy.

This case is being investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey W. Davis and Michael Herskowitz are prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.Pressemails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.