A Lafayette woman has been charged with statutory rape. 

20-year-old Crystal Cothren is accused of having a relationship with a 15-year old Trenton boy.

Cothren reportedly told LaFayette Police Chief Bengie Clift she knew the boy was 15. He added that the number of women charged with statutory rape is slim to none and hardly ever with a consensual relationship.

According to the boy's mother, Cothren met the juvenile at a north Georgia skating rink several months back and though she was told to stay away, she didn't.

Last weekend Cothren is accused of driving 34 miles to pick him up from his Trenton home and take him back to Lafayette. He was at her apartment for three nights,  when his mom stepped in.

According to the police report, officers found the couple and Cothren's two small children inside her apartment. Her toddlers hadn't been fed or cleaned.

In Georgia, the age of consent is 16-years-old.

Cothren reportedly planned to move to Trenton to be closer to the 15-year-old. She's free on bond but officers say she could spend a couple years behind bars. She's scheduled to be back in court in November.

Booked into the Chattooga County Jail on July 15, according to the jail docket: 

Antonia Tepag Aguirre, Trion, Diving without a valid license/expired license

Vicktoria Tonie Cochran, Trion, No Charges Listed

Remia Tabrie Heard, Rome, Failure to Appear

Lisa Ann Hampton, Trion; Failure To Appear/Floyd County Warrant/ Original Charge — no insurance 

AFTER A BOUT WITH SUSPECTED CANINE PARVO VIRUS… AND A MAJOR CLEANUP… THE WALKER COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER IS EXPECTED TO RE-OPEN WEDNESDAY, JULY 11.  STATE INSPECTORS GAVE THE SHELTER AN INSPECTION… AND CLEARED THE FACILITY TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATIONS.

A COUPLE OF PUPPIES DIED SUDDENLY… FORCING THE QUARANTINE LAST WEEK.  DIRECTOR ALISON SMITH SAID THE PUPPIES THEY TOOK IN SHOULD HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED VACCINATION SHOTS AGAINST PARVO… BUT THEY HAD NOT.   SINCE THEN, NO OTHER ANIMALS HAVE DIED.  THE SHELTER HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY CLEANED WITH PRESSURE WASHERS AND CHEMICALS, TO KNOCK OUT ANY REMAINING VIRUS. 

WQCH 

When the Chattooga County Personnel Board met Monday to decide whether or not it would hear the appeal of two terminated Sheriff's Department, all constitutional officers were present except the Tax Commissioner.

Normally, all  of the county's constitutional officers make up the board and determine the outcome. On hand for the most recent board meeting were Probate Judge Jon Payne, Magistrate Judge Tracy Maddox, County Commissioner Jason Winters and Clerk of Court Lann Cordle. Sheriff John Everett could not participate because the issue at hand concerned the Sheriff's Department. Tax Commissioner Kathy Brown chose not to participate.

AM 1180 asked Brown why she made that decision and she said that she, "respectfully declined to comment."

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On Monday, a board of Chattooga County constitutional officers voted unanimously to hear the appeals of two fired Chattooga County Sheriff's Department employees. It will be the second appeal for K,K, Bullard and Lisa Hall, both terminated for violations of departmental policy, according to Sheriff John Everett. Both women appealed their terminations before Everett shortly after they were terminated. Everett who fired both women presides and decides over Sheriff's Department appeals. He upheld both decisions.

When told of the board's decision on Monday, Everett told AM1180 that  the county's personnel board can hear the appeal and rule however they want, he is not rehiring the terminated employees.

We asked a member of the panel, Probate Judge Jon Payne, what happens if the board doesn't uphold Everett's previous decision and votes for reinstatement of either or both women.

Payne says he's really not sure of the answer to that. He says the board only determined if the issues should be heard as a personnel matter. Payne explained that the Sheriff says he has his own personnel policy however,  the board hasn't seen the policy but Payne said that  the board will look at the sheriff's personnel policy. Payne says as to  the outcome of the appeals, "no one knows what that will be at this point." But if the board decides the employees should be reinstated and the sheriff doesn't, Payne says it could be a court matter.

The board has yet to set a date for the appeal hearings.

Booked into the Chattooga County Jail on July 9

Kasper Rose Beck, Summerville, Public Drunkenness

Larry Dale Dooley, Trion, No Charges Listed

Veronica Lynn Pickard,  Summerville; Probation Violation Superior Original Charge: Forgery Firs Degree

Anthony Wayne Trammell, Summerville, VGCSA -Possession of Meth; Possession/Use of Drug Related Objects, Terroristic Threats and Acts, Simple Battery, Criminal Trespass

Rusty Martin Williams, Henegar, AL,  DUI/Alcohol, /0 .08 grams or more/ 21  or over, Failure to Maintain a Single Lane, Driving with Suspended/Revoked License.

Chattooga County Public Works Director Lamar Canada announced abut 3 p.m. Monday that Halls Valley Bridge Rd. has been opened. 

Back on May 11 of this year the Georgia D.O.T. notified Chattooga County that there would have to be a new bridge on Halls Valley Road.  The county opted to install four large culverts and had hoped that bridge would be re-opened by this week.  However, Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winters told AM 1180 that the concrete around the culverts needs more time to cure and that the bridge causing the closure of the bridge over the weekend.  Chattooga County Public Works crews began back filling on Monday morning and that work was completed by Monday afternoon..  

On Monday, A board of local constitutional officers decided it would hear the appeals of two fired Sheriff's Department Employees.

The board made up of constitutional officers decided they will hear the appeals of K.K Bullard and Lisa Hall – both terminated by Sheriff John Everett for violation of departmental policy. Bullard was terminated late last year, while Hall was terminated earlier this year.

Both employees appealed their terminations to the Sheriff's Department previously. According to the Sheriff he hears and decides those appeals, with his captain and administrative assistant sitting in. Everett denied both appeals.

Hall's attorney Sutton Connelly told today's board that he tried to attend the previous appeal before the sheriff but the sheriff met him at the door, put his hand on his chest and refused to allow  him entry. Everett told AM1180 he never touched Connelly but did tell him he was not allowed into the hearing.

As to the board's decision, Everett said the county's personnel board can hear the appeal and rule however they want, he is not rehiring the terminated employees. He said they are governed by the Sheriff's Department's policies and not the county's. He said it is a waste of taxpayers money to hear the appeal of employees who violated departmental policy.  

The board was made up of Probate Judge Jon Payne, Magistrate Judge Tracy Maddox, Clerk of Court Lann Cordle and County Commissioner Jason Winters. Attorney Frank Beecham of Rome represented Chattooga County at the hearing.