The Coweta County Solicitor General’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of misdemeanors in the State Court of Coweta County. A misdemeanor is a crime, including traffic and non-traffic offenses, punishable by a period of up to twelve months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.00 ($5,000.00 for misdemeanors of a high and aggravated nature). Non-traffic misdemeanors include, but are not limited to, domestic violence, theft involving $1,500.00 or less, shoplifting of $500.00 or less, and possession of one ounce or less of marijuana. Some of the more serious traffic offenses include, but are not limited to, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, reckless driving, hit and run, and fleeing from law enforcement officers.
Cases falling under the jurisdiction of the Solicitor General come to the office from the law enforcement agencies in Coweta County, including but not limited to the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, Newnan Police Department, Senoia Police Department, Grantville Police Department, and Georgia State Patrol. These cases come by way of warrants issued by the Magistrate Court of Coweta County and citations issued by the law enforcement agencies. The Solicitor General’s Office also handles cases transferred from the Coweta County District Attorney’s Office and municipal courts within the county.
The Solicitor General’s Office reviews cases as they are made by law enforcement agencies, conducts further investigation when needed, files formal charges, and handles the cases in the State Court of Coweta County from the initial arraignment to trial (both bench trials and jury trials).