Son of indicted Worth County sheriff is facing drug charge

POULAN — Officials with the Poulan Police Department confirmed Tuesday that Zachery Lewis Hobby, the son of recently indicted Worth County Sheriff Jeff Hobby, and another individual, Aaron Ray Short, were taken into custody Monday afternoon as part of a drug investigation.

The case was turned over to the GBI.

Poulan Police Chief Larry Whisenant said the GBI would handle the investigation and press any charges in the case.

“We did not arrest the sheriff’s son, Zachery, but he was taken into custody around 3 p.m. on Monday here in Poulan and the GBI took over,” Whisenant said. “They are doing the warrants, and he is being charged today.”

The GBI said Tuesday afternoon that its Sylvester office had been called in to assist in the case by the Tift Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s office and had lodged charges.

“As a result of the investigation, warrants were issued on Aaron Ray Short, age 20, for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute as well as attempt and conspiracy (related to the possession of marijuana),” the GBI said in a news release. “Warrants were also issued for Zackery Lewis Hobby, age 17, for criminal trespass, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, as well as attempt and conspiracy (also related to the possession of marijuana). Both Short and Hobby have been arrested and were booked in to the Worth County Jail.

Earlier Tuesday, Whisenant said he did not know what charges might be filed.

“I do not know exactly what he (Hobby) will be charged with,” Whisenant said. “That would be up to the GBI. It may be possession, or it may be possession with intent.”

According to a Poulan Police Department incident report, officers responded to a call for assistance from Whisenant when Zachery Hobby was taken into custody at 127 Hunton St. in Poulan.

“I responded to a call for assistance from Chief Whisenant,” Poulan Police Department Cpl. Frank Walker wrote in the report. “Both defendants were taken into custody in reference to criminal trespass and a drug investigation. Case was turned over to GBI.”

Whisenant was asked if Sheriff Hobby intervened in any way on behalf of his son after reports surfaced that the Worth sheriff had taken possession of Zachery Hobby’s cellphone and other personal items.

“The sheriff did come and get some of his son’s possessions,” Whisenant said. “But, at that time, Zachery had not been charged with anything. At this point, we have turned everything else over to the GBI.”

The Tift Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, which includes Worth County in its jurisdiction, received indictments Oct. 3 against the Worth sheriff and six other employees of his office in connection to an April 14 drug search incident at Worth County High School.

Sheriff Hobby, Brandi Whiddon, Deidra Whiddon (formerly Deidra Tucker), Tyler Turner, Skylar Duke and Anthony Cravey were charged with 14 counts of violation of oath by public officer, eight counts of sexual battery, nine counts of sexual battery against a child under age 16 and five counts of false imprisonment under color of law, according to documents filed in Worth County Superior Court.

Attempts to reach Sheriff Hobby Tuesday were unsuccessful.