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CALHOUN — A former Gordon County Commission chair and her husband have pleaded not guilty to child abuse-related charges following a criminal investigation of more than four years.

Becky Hood was indicted in mid-March 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.

They each entered pleas of not guilty Friday in the courtroom of Gordon County Superior Court Judge Ralph Van Pelt, Jr.

The pleas signal the beginning of a resolution to the case, which started in January 2021 when the Gordon County SheriffÐÔÊӽ紫ý Office asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to look into allegations of sexual and physical abuse of Becky HoodÐÔÊӽ紫ý adopted children.

The Calhoun Times broke the story in February 2021 but the investigation itself stalled due to Becky HoodÐÔÊӽ紫ý position as an elected official. After a series of recusals by agencies, including the Gordon County SheriffÐÔÊӽ紫ý Office and the local district attorneyÐÔÊӽ紫ý office, the case was passed between various courts and agencies for a while. The covid pandemic also affected progress.

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.

The case was eventually assigned to the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit District AttorneyÐÔÊӽ紫ý Office in 2024. That restarted the investigation and .