Becky and Scott Hood
A former Gordon County Commission chair and her husband have pleaded not guilty to child abuse-related charges following a more than four-year-long criminal investigation.
In mid-March Becky Hood was indicted by a Gordon County Grand Jury on one count of first degree cruelty to children, while her husband Scott Hood was indicted on one count of child molestation. Both indictments were overseen by Judge Ralph Van Pelt, Jr.
Becky Hood was arrested at the end of October 2024 by Gordon County SheriffÐÔÊӽ紫ý Office deputies when she was initially charged, while Scott was arrested by Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents the same day.
In a Gordon County courtroom on Friday morning, both Hoods entered pleas of not guilty.
In February of 2021, the Calhoun Times broke the story that then commission chair Becky Hood was part of an ongoing GBI investigation. After a series of initial recusals by agencies like GCSO and the local District AttorneyÐÔÊӽ紫ý Office due to conflicts of interest with HoodÐÔÊӽ紫ý elected position, the case — that was later revealed to also include HoodÐÔÊӽ紫ý husband — stalled as it was passed between various courts and agencies.
Early in the investigation, GBI Agent Joe Montgomery said his agency became stuck in a holding pattern while awaiting the Georgia Attorney GeneralÐÔÊӽ紫ý Office to appoint a district attorney to serve as prosecutor for the investigation, which is a common occurrence in cases involving elected officials. Early on the case seemed to have also become a victim of COVID-related court backlogs, with the judicial system overloaded through most of 2021 and 2022.
The state AGÐÔÊӽ紫ý office then worked to appoint a district attorney in the case pursuant to Georgia Code 15-18-5, and once the assignment was made, that DA could then act as prosecutor on the case.
A conflict letter was submitted on Feb. 1, 2021, meaning the case was delayed over three years between that time and the eventual arrests. That letter was submitted by former Cherokee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Rosemary M. Greene to the state AG. In the letter, Greene advised the AG of a conflict of interest based on a professional relationship with Hood, and requested appointment of a District Attorney Pro Tempore.
The case was eventually assigned to the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit DAÐÔÊӽ紫ý Office in 2024, which then led to an investigation and the above charges.
In February of 2022, Becky Hood announced she would not seek reelection to the Board of Commissioners, having served since 2006. She had last run unopposed in 2018, and was the boardÐÔÊӽ紫ý chair at the time of her departure.
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(2) comments
I'm glad to see the kids are getting some justice. It's sad to read about what these parents did to their kids.
If they're found guilty please prosecute to the fullest extent of the Law!!No one and I mean no one is above the law..
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