Cynthia Chaney

THOMASVILLE — A former Meigs mayor said 17 charges of felony theft by taking while she was in office are a misunderstanding.

A 17-count indictment was returned after Thomasville Georgia Bureau of Investigation office agents made a special presentment to a Thomas County grand jury.

“As far as the charges, I don’t have any doubt it will work out to be a big misunderstanding that has been made into something it is not,” said Cynthia Chaney, former Meigs mayor, 

The title of a vehicle purchased at a Florida auction with city funds was placed in Chaney’s name, Lt. Tim Watkins, Thomas County Sheriff’s Office chief investigator, said.

Another count involves Chaney using city money to pay a personal laundry bill, Watkins added.

Sheriff Carlton Powell requested the GBI’s assistance in the case.

Chaney is in violation of her fiduciary responsibilities as mayor, Watkins said.

Jamy Steinberg, special agent in charge of the Thomasville GBI office, said the Chaney case has been open for almost two years.

The amount of money involved has not been determined. The GBI is still looking at City of Meigs financial records, Steinberg said.

In general, he explained, an investigation depends on available records.

A person who answered the phone at Meigs City Hall Monday morning said she thinks Chaney was mayor in 2014. Chaney thinks her mayoral duties were in 2012 and 2013.

Chaney, 46, 5058 Golden St., Meigs, surrendered Friday at the sheriff’s office. A GBI agent was present.

The former Meigs mayor said she will fight the charges “with the truth.”

“So far, no one has heard my side of the story on any of this. All of this came as a surprise,” Chaney told the Times-Enterprise Monday.

She learned Friday morning she would be arrested when a Meigs police officer served her with a bench warrant at her residence. The officer “told me what was going on,” Chaney said.

Chaney was released from the Thomas County Jail on a $15,100 bond.

The case does not have a court date, Steinberg said.

“It will be up to the DA’s office to put it on the trial calendar,” the GBI agent said. “That’s where we are now.”

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820