Strickland Trial Pushed Back

In Franklin County, the trial for former Franklin County Commissioner David Strickland has been pushed back.

The trial had been listed on the Franklin County Clerk of Court trial Web site as beginning on Monday.

However, according to the Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s office, the case has been pushed back to the next trial calendar, which is scheduled for sometime in March.

Strickland, 57, owns David Strickland & Associates, an Insurance/Investment firm in Royston.

He was indicted in early December 2016 by a Franklin County Grand Jury.

According to the indictment, in January 2016 Strickland allegedly used deceptive practices to buy property at 2410 Starrs Bridge Road in Canon, which at the time was owned by an elderly couple identified in the indictment as Frankie and Patsy Sosby.

The indictment alleges Strickland used quote, “deceitful means and artful practice” by telling the couple they had to sell the property to his wife in order to avoid losing their home, rather than filing bankruptcy.

Strickland then allegedly kept the proceeds of the sale of the Sosby property.

Count two of the indictment alleges Strickland used the Sosby’s Social Security payments, and the property for his own personal gain and then charged the Sosby’s $500 a month rent to stay in their home, when bankruptcy would have allowed them to keep their home and their Social Security payments.

He served as a Franklin County commissioner for four years before vacating the seat in 2015 last year to run for County Commission Chair, but lost to the incumbent, Thomas Bridges.