GA: Police chief pleads not guilty in hunting case

Morehouse police chief pleads not guilty in hunting case 
May 14, 2009

Morehouse College police chief Vernon Worthy pleaded not guilty Thursday on charges stemming from a hunting confrontation in Middle Georgia.

Worthy, who is charged with aggravated assault, false imprisonment and pointing a gun at another, entered his plea in Lamar County Superior Court.

The incident happened on Nov. 11 when Nathaniel Rooks of Barnesville and Worthy encountered each other on land Rooks claimed he had permission to hunt, according to Barnesville.com

Rooks was in a deer stand when he saw Worthy and approached him.

Rooks testified in a preliminary hearing that Worthy pulled a pistol and ordered him to lie face down on the ground, according to Barnesville.com.

"He told me, 'I will blow your [expletive deleted] brains out if you try anything,'" Rooks testified.

During the hearing, Worthy's lawyer said the charges are "not legitimate" and that Worthy "has been an outstanding law enforcement officer" for four decades.

The case has been placed on the trial calendar, according to Barnesville.com.

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