Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader is correcting what he says is an inaccurate headline published in this week’s edition of The Summerville News regarding the recent indictment of a woman accused of inappropriate contact with an inmate.
Organizations planning to use raffles as fundraisers should be aware that Georgia law allows only qualified nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations to conduct them legally.
Under O.C.G.A. § 16-12-22.1, only qualified nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations—including charities, churches and schools—may operate raffles in Georgia. Individuals and for-profit businesses are prohibited from conducting raffles, and unauthorized raffles may constitute illegal commercial gambling, which is a felony under Georgia law.
To qualify, an organization must have maintained valid IRS 501(c) tax-exempt status for at least 24 months and obtain an annual raffle license from the sheriff’s office in the county where the organization is based. The application fee may be up to $100.
Georgia law also requires raffles to be conducted only on property owned by the nonprofit, property leased by the organization for purposes other than conducting raffles, or property leased from another qualified nonprofit organization. Participants must be at least 18 years old, unless accompanied by an adult.
Organizations holding four or more raffles each year must submit an annual report of raffle receipts and expenditures, signed by a certified public accountant, to the sheriff by April 15.
Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader makes raffle license applications and related forms available online through the Sheriff’s Office website at https://chattooga-ga-sheriff.org/.
Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader is warning residents about a phone scam targeting local citizens.
According to Sheriff Schrader, the Sheriff’s Office received four reports in one day from residents who were contacted by scammers claiming money was owed for missed court dates, civil matters, or bond-related issues. In one case, a victim reportedly lost $2,000.
Sheriff Schrader emphasized that the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, and other legitimate law enforcement agencies, will never call residents and demand payment over the telephone. Law enforcement will not ask anyone to put money on gift cards, prepaid cards, or any other type of card to resolve court issues or bond someone out of jail.
Residents who receive suspicious calls should hang up and contact law enforcement directly using a verified phone number. Sheriff Schrader is asking the public to share the warning with family, friends, and neighbors to help prevent others from becoming victims.
Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader is warning residents to be on alert for a scam involving emails that appear to come from the Sheriff’s Office.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Sunday, March 15, 2026:
Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader is joining law enforcement agencies across the country in warning parents about a violent online extremist network known as “764,” which authorities say targets minors through social media, gaming platforms, and private chat features.
Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader joined fellow sheriffs at the State Capitol to support proposed state budget funding for a new 300-bed mental health hospital, a move aimed at addressing Georgia’s long-standing shortage of inpatient psychiatric beds.
Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader is urging parents to closely monitor their children’s online activity after sharing a report about two Florida girls who were allegedly abducted by a man they had been communicating with for months through popular apps.
Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader released a statement to local media explaining the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Billy Joe Dooley following a crash Friday evening that resulted in DUI charges.