A federal grand jury has indicted Buck William Aldridge, a sergeant with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia, on charges of civil rights violations and falsifying records. The indictment alleges that Aldridge, 42, from St. Mary’s, used excessive force against arrestees on four occasions while serving as a deputy sheriff. It also claims that he filed several misleading reports to justify his actions.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons for the Southern District of Georgia and Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. The FBI’s Brunswick Field Office is conducting the investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Aldridge could face up to 10 years in prison for each civil rights violation and up to 20 years for each false report. Sentencing would be determined by a federal district court judge after considering federal guidelines and statutory factors.
“Law enforcement officers are entrusted with the authority to uphold the law—not to break it. When that trust is violated, the FBI will act. No badge puts anyone above the Constitution,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We remain committed to investigating civil rights violations and holding accountable those who abuse their power.”
Authorities emphasized that an indictment is only an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
