SPARKS — The former Sparks police chief pleaded guilty to a three-count felony indictment and will serve six years probation, according to Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney Cathy Helms.

Ronnie Dobbins pleaded, as the initial indictment was drafted, to first-degree forgery, false swearing and false statement on an application, according to Helms.

The investigation began after Dobbins created a letter on state letterhead dated July 29, 2005, purportedly from Gail Byrd, administrative assistant in the State Insurance and Fire Commissioner’s Office. Dobbins faxed the letter from the Sparks Police Department, where he was chief at the time, to DynCorp International in support of his application to become an instructor for the agency. The forgery was discovered when DynCorp contacted Byrd to confirm the letter. The investigation was then turned over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, according to facts recited by the state that would have been presented to the court had the case gone to trial.

When the judge asked Dobbins if the facts were true and correct as recited, Dobbins responded affirmatively, Helms stated. Dobbins’ attorney, Mitchell Moore, offered an explanation in mitigation, but both he and Dobbins agreed to the facts as presented, according to Helms.

The forged letter and known handwriting samples from Dobbins were sent to the GBI Crime Lab for handwriting analysis. In the opinion of the GBI expert on handwriting, Dobbins signed Byrd’s name to the letter and Dobbins admitted doing so, according to the state’s facts of the case.

On Nov. 21, 2004, Dobbins applied for the Sparks police chief position. In his application, Dobbins gave a sworn statement that he had “no medical disabilities” under penalty for false swearing, according to the state’s facts of the case.

Between Feb. 14, 2005, and May 31, 2005, Dobbins took his accumulated sick and annual leave from the state of Georgia while waiting on a disability determination from the state. On Feb. 14, 2005, Dobbins also began full time as the Sparks police chief, according to the state’s facts of the case.

On May 3, 2005, Dobbins submitted a letter from his doctor in support of his disability claim which said there is “no question (Dobbins) is significantly disabled … and certainly not suitable for employment in a position requiring extensive standing, walking, etc.”

Dobbins was granted permanent medical disability status and retired from the State Fire Marshal’s Office on full-time paid medical disability effective May 31, 2005. In Dobbins’ disability claim form, submitted to the state under penalty of perjury, he stated he was “permanently disabled” and suffered from “total disability,” according to the state’s facts of the case.

Dobbins resigned as the Sparks police chief Aug. 5, 2005, in order to keep his pension from his prior job as fire marshal, according to a previous Valdosta Daily Times report.

Following the plea, the court followed the state’s recommendation and Dobbins was sentenced to two years probation for each count, to run concurrently, and a $1,500 fine, according to Helms.

The state recommended that Dobbins not be allowed to plead under Georgia’s First Offender Act, which would leave Dobbins with no adjudication of guilt once his sentence was served.

Helms stated that due to his background in law enforcement, Dobbins should not be able to have these charges taken off his record following the completion of his sentence.

After arguments made by Moore, the judge followed the final recommendation of the state and denied Dobbins first offender status.

Moore did not wish to comment regarding the case.