Treutlen County sheriff and deputy plead innocent in assault case

AUGUSTA - The Treutlen County sheriff and a deputy have pleaded innocent to civil rights violations in federal court. <br> <br> Sheriff Wayne Hooks and Deputy Ryan Griner answered questions from U.S. Magistrate Judge Leon Barfield in a 15-minute arraignment Tuesday. <br> <br> Hooks is charged with assaulting two people in custody by using unreasonable force in October 2001. The assault of Steven Dewayne Tanner and Tony Lee King followed a car chase. <br> <br> Griner is accused of assaulting Tanner. <br> <br> He also faces an obstruction of justice charge. Prosecutors say he tried to influence the testimony of a person who was a witness to the assault on Tanner. <br> <br> Hooks and Griner face up to ten years in prison and $250,000 in fines on the civil rights charge. The obstruction of justice charge against Griner carries the same maximum penalty.