\\ Former CCSO SRO Michael McGuffey Indicted on CSA charges
Former Coweta County Sheriff's Office ( CCSO ) Deputy and Smokey Road Middle School SRO Michael McGuffey was indicted on 5 counts of CSA related charges by a Coweta County Grand Jury on August 11th, 2026. On August 13th, McGuffey turned himself into the Coweta County Jail on an arrest warrant issued that same day by the court.
The Initial Accusations & Response
According to a press release provided by the CCSO on August 14th, the indictment and arrests stem from an investigation that started on April 3rd, 2025 when the CCSO received an anonymous tip regarding McGuffey's interaction with students while SRO at Smokey Road Middle School. The allegations included that he made inappropriate comments toward several female students; and also texted with at least one female student while employed with the Sheriff’s Office.
In response McGuffey was placed on administrative leave the next day, April 4th, 2025, pending the results of an internal investigation.
The internal investigation identified criminal accusations against McGuffey, resulting in the CCSO immediatly handing the criminal investigation over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation ( GBI ).
Resignation
On April 29th, 2025, while under investigation, McGuffey submitted his resignation as a member of the CCSO. A copy of his resignation letter is in the gallery below this article.
Indictment
The Coweta County DA's office presented the result of the GBI's criminal investigation to a Grand Jury. On August 11th, 2026, that Grand Jury returned a True Bill of Indictment against Michael McGuffey containing the 5 following counts.
- Child Molestation - That between the 1st day of August, 2019, and the 16th day of March, 2020, the exact date of the offense being unknown to the Grand Jury, did commit an immoral and indecent act to [ VICTIM ], a child under the age of 16 years, with the intent to arouse and satisfy the sexual desires of himself by placing the hand of said accused on the vaignal area of said child, contrary to the laws of the State of Georgia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
- Child Molestation - That between the 1st day of August, 2019, and the 16th day of March, 2020, the exact date of the offense being unknown to the Grand Jury, did commit an immoral and indecent act to [ VICTIM ], a child under the age of 16 years, with the intent to arouse and satisfy the sexual desires of himself by placing the mouth of said accused on the face of said child, contrary to the laws of the State of Georgia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
- Child Molestation - That between the 1st day of August, 2019, and the 16th day of March, 2020, the exact date of the offense being unknown to the Grand Jury, did commit an immoral and indecent act to [ VICTIM ], a child under the age of 16 years, with the intent to arouse and satisfy the sexual desires of himself by placing the hand of said accused on the leg and on the thigh of said child, contrary to the laws of the State of Georgia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
- Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes - That between the 1st day of August, 2019, and the 16th day of March, 2020, the exact date of the offense being unknown to the Grand Jury, did unlawfully solicit, entice, and take [ VICTIM ], a child under the age of sixteen years, to the parking lot of a gas station for the purpose of child molestation, contrary to the laws of the State of Gerogia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
- Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes - That between the 1st day of August, 2019, and the 16th day of March, 2020, the exact date of the offense being unknown to the Grand Jury, did unlawfully solicit, entice, and take [ VICTIM ], a child under the age of sixteen years, to a wooded area located off of Pete Davis Road at Thig Pen Road for the purpose of child molestation, contrary to the laws of the State of Gerogia, the good order, peace and dignity thereof.
On August 13th, 2026 the court issued an arrest warrant for McGuffey for the charges contained within the indictment.
Arrest & Confinement
A short time after the arrest warrant was issued on August 13th, McGuffey turned himself into the Coweta County Jail where he was booked on the following charges:
- 2 Counts of Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes (F), and
- 3 Counts of Child Molestation (F)
At the request of the Coweta County Sheriff's Department McGuffey was transfered and booked into the Heard County Sherrif's Office Jail ( HCSO ) where he will be confined until his trial or a Judge sets bond1.
Court Filings Following Arrest
Court records show that the following were filed with the court on August 14th, 2026.
- Entry of Appearance - Timothy L. Cook of The Cook Law Firm in Atlanta gave notice to the court that he will be the Attorney of Record for McGuffey for this case.
- Motion for Bond - Through his attorney, McGuffey has submitted a Motion for Bond. The motion makes the following statements in support of his motion:
- Defendant is charged with the offenses of three counts of child molestation and town counts of enticing a child. All five accounts have a range of dates over six years ago and refer to the same alleged victim and do not allege that they occur at different times.
- Defendant has been cooperating with law enforcement throughout this monthslong investigation. Upon learning his case was indicted on this date and that an arrest warrant had issued he immediately turned himself inot the Coweta County Sheriff. He has accordingly shown he is not to be a risk to flee or evade law enforcement.
- Defendant is a former Sheriff's Deputy and years of law enforcement experience. He is not a danger to the community.
- Defendant has no prior criminal history. He is not currently on probation or parole nor does he have any "hold" requests to any other court or law enforcement agency. He is accordingly not a risk to commit felonies pending trial.
- Defendant denies he is guilty of the charges made in the indictment and requests the Court to set a bond in his case. He is ameanable to all resonable conditions and is agreeable not to have contact with the alleged victim or the alleged victim's family.
- Defendant is agreeable to appear at all future appearances of the case, and not to interfere with justice.
- Finally the Motion request a hearing on this Motion for Bond; and if the Motion is found to be true, a reasonable bond allowing him to remain outside of custody pending further proceedings in the case.
- Defendant is charged with the offenses of three counts of child molestation and town counts of enticing a child. All five accounts have a range of dates over six years ago and refer to the same alleged victim and do not allege that they occur at different times.
Employment and SRO Assignment History
The CCSO has provided the following information regarding McGuffey's employment with the agency as well as SRO assignments.
- McGuffey was employed with the CCSO from 5/3/1993 to 7/8/2010.
- During the 2003 to 2006 period he was assigned as the SRO at Madras Middle School.
- During the 2003 to 2006 period he was assigned as the SRO at Madras Middle School.
- McGuffey was again employed with the CCSO from 9/9/2013 to 4/29/2025.
- He was assigned as the SRO for Smokey Road Middle School from 2015 until the date of his resgination.
- He was assigned as the SRO for Smokey Road Middle School from 2015 until the date of his resgination.
- According to a Disciplinary Action dated Feburary 26th, 2009, McGuffey was demoted in rank due to a series of failures and violations including:
- Dereliction / Neglect of Duty
- Incompetence / Inefficiency
- Insubordination
Official Statements
On August 14th, 2026 the Coweta County Sheriff's Office provided the following statement regarding the investigation.
On April 3rd, 2025, the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office received an anonymous tip regarding possible misconduct by one of its deputies. The complaint alleged that deputy Michael McGuffey made inappropriate comments toward several female students; and also texted with at least one female student while employed with the Sheriff’s Office.
On April 4th, 2025, Dep. McGuffey was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation into the matter. During the internal investigation, allegations of criminal activity committed by Dep. McGuffey were made. Once these allegations were made, the criminal aspect of this investigation was turned over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. While still under investigation, Dep. McGuffey resigned from the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office on April 29th, 2025.
The GBI’s criminal investigation has been ongoing, resulting in former Dep. McGuffey being indicted by a grand jury on August 12th, 2026, for 3 counts of child molestation and 2 counts of enticing a minor. Michael McGuffey turned himself in to the Coweta County Jail on August 13th, 2026.
Any questions regarding the criminal aspect of this investigation need to be directed to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations.
Also on August 14th, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation released the following statement regarding thier investigation:
Coweta County, GA (August 14, 2026) - The GBI has arrested and charged former Coweta County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Deputy Mike McGuffey, age 59, of Newnan, GA, with three counts of Child Molestation and two counts of Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes.
On April 21, 2025, the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) requested the GBI to investigate allegations that McGuffey, while working as the school resource officer at a Coweta County middle school, had inappropriate contact with a student.
McGuffey is no longer employed at CCSO.
McGuffey was indicted and charged on Thursday, August 13, 2026. He turned himself in to the CCSO on Friday, August 14, 2026, and was booked into the Heard County Jail.
This case is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the GBI’s Regional Investigative Office in Midland at (706) 565-7888. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-onlineor by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Once the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Timeline of Events
- 1993 to 2002
- May 3rd, 1993 - McGuffey begins employment with CCSO.
- May 3rd, 1993 - McGuffey begins employment with CCSO.
- 2003 to 2006
- McGuffey is assigned as the SRO at Madras Middle School.
- McGuffey is assigned as the SRO at Madras Middle School.
- 2009
- Feburary 26th, 2009 - McGuffey receives a demotion for violations uncovered during an internal investigation.
- Feburary 26th, 2009 - McGuffey receives a demotion for violations uncovered during an internal investigation.
- 2010
- August 8th, 2010 - McGuffey Leaves Employment with CCSO.
- August 8th, 2010 - McGuffey Leaves Employment with CCSO.
- 2013
- September 9th, 2013 - McGuffey again begins employment with the CCSO.
- September 9th, 2013 - McGuffey again begins employment with the CCSO.
- 2015
- McGuffey is assigned as the SRO at Smokey Road Middle School.
- McGuffey is assigned as the SRO at Smokey Road Middle School.
- 2019
- August 1st, 2019 - Start of period referenced in the indictment as to when crimes were commited.
- August 1st, 2019 - Start of period referenced in the indictment as to when crimes were commited.
- 2020
- March 16th, 2020 - End of period refrenced in the indictment.
- March 16th, 2020 - End of period refrenced in the indictment.
- 2025
- April 3rd - CCSO is provided with annon tip regarding McGuffey's interactions with female students.
- April 4th - McGuffey is placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
- April 23rd - Having uncovered criminal accusations, CCSO hands criminal investigation to GBI. GBI starts investigation.
- April 29th - McGuffey resigns from the CCSO while under investigation.
- 2026
- August 11th - Grand Jury returns 5 count indictment against McGuffey.
- August 13th
- Arrest Order is issued by the court.
- McGuffey turns himself into the Coweta County Jail where he's booked.
- August 14th
- CCSO and GBI release statements regarding investigation and arrest.
- McGuffey is transfered and booked into the Heard County Jail.
- Lawyer Timothy L. Cook files Entry of Appearance with the Court.
- Defense files Motion for Bond.
McGuffey Indictment
Footnotes
- This is a common step taken with suspects that are current or former law enforcement in order to lessen the chance they come into contact with a suspect they were involved in arresting. ↩