This story was updated on March 22 at 2:47 p.m.
On Saturday night, March 19, Hart County Board of Commissioners representative Ricky Carter, 64, and his son Jake Carter, 34, were arrested and charged for an allegedly violent dispute.
Ricky and Jake Carter drove up to a relative’s house around 10:30 p.m. over a “disagreement” involving the elder Carter’s grandchildren, according to Hart County sheriff Mike Cleveland. The relative allegedly ran the kids off from his property. The two Carters responded by arming themselves and confronted him, according to Cleveland.
“Jack is Ricky’s brother-in-law and supposedly Jack had run some of Ricky Carter’s grandchildren off of a pond from behind his house, and so instead of calling the law they just took matters into their own hands – went over there and got in trouble,” Cleveland said. “It seems like the two Carters went to Mr. Jack Williford’s house; they had a disagreement with him, and both of them had firearms with them, drove up to Williford’s house, and Jake commenced to beating the hell out of Jack Williford.”
Cleveland said a neighbor helped intervene with the struggle and prevented further damage to a badly injured Williford.
“Jack’s daughter called a neighbor, he came and got Jake off of Jack, and that’s when Ricky broke out his firearm and made threats to this neighbor that was having to pound on Jake Carter to get him off of Williford,” Cleveland said. “We will not be charging him because he was the good Samaritan in this whole story.”
Ricky Carter is charged with pointing a gun, making terroristic threats/acts, and pointing a firearm at another.
Jake is charged with aggravated battery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, three counts of cruelty to children in the third degree, and aggravated assault.
“There were three young children watching all of this in the window through the house watching their granddaddy get the hell beat out of him,” Cleveland said.
Cleveland said Williford sustained life threatening injuries: brain bleed, multiple broken ribs, fluid in the lungs, among other injuries. Cleveland said he was still in serious condition Monday morning.
Brother Eric Williford said Monday that Jack has “a long road to recovery” ahead of him. Asked Tuesday for an update on his status, Eric said, “He rested well last night and feels better. Long way to go.”
Ricky Carter posted bail Sunday for $6,500, according to Cleveland.
The Georgia Bureau Investigation began taking over the case Monday and information on Jake Carter’s bail was unavailable Tuesday.
“I can’t comment on any specifics of the case but I’ll let you know that I have been working with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and I anticipate they will conduct a thorough investigation driven by the law and the facts and it’s entirely possible that additional charges will be filed,” Northern District Defense Attorney Parks White said Tuesday.
Ricky Carter is the current commissioner representing District 4 in Hart County and has served uninterrupted since 2014.
When asked whether the felony charges affect Ricky Carter’s standing as an elected official, White said, “The charges don’t relate to anything related to the performance of his duties as a commissioner and therefore, I don’t believe they would require the governor to appoint a board to determine whether or not he should be suspended during the pendency of the indictment. It’s only if it relates the performance of his duty would that process be required.”
Carter is up for reelection and is currently set to face off against challenger Jeff Brown during the May 24 Republican primary.