Former FBI task force head faces criminal probe

Monday, August 12, 2013

photo Cobb County Superior Court Senior Judge Grant Brantley reschedules preliminary hearings to allow FBI time to investigate Special Agent Ken Hillman while at Catoosa County Superior Court. The hearings for ten defendants are scheduled for February 10, 2014 but will most likely be moved. The defense dropped a motion to disqualify Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Herbert "Buzz" Franklin, and motions to access to the state's camera, audio and computer files have been delayed six months.

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A North Georgia judge revealed this morning that FBI Special Agent Ken Hillman, former head of the Northwest Georgia Crimes Against Children Task Force, faces a criminal investigation in connection with that operation.

Judge Grant Brantley also agreed this morning in Walker County Superior Court to push court hearings in 10 child sex sting cases brought by the task force back six months during that investigation.

Among other actions, defense attorneys in the 10 cases entered motions to see Hillman's personnel file in preparation for the trials against the men arrested by the task force last year.

The defense also entered a motion for access to the computers that members of the task force used. They also wanted to disqualify Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Herbert "Buzz" Franklin from prosecuting the case, but the defense dropped that request this morning.

Brantley set a new court date for the hearings on Feb. 10.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.