Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard has requested an independent state review of her office after FOX5 investigator Randy Travis allegedly found that her office used the victims’ support fund to purchase several personal items.
The FOX5 I-Team obtained spending records from January 2021 through September 2022 and allegedly found that Woodard’s office had spent over $7,000. According to the report, there is no indication that these purchases supported crime victims.
Woodard released a statement Friday afternoon in response to Travis’ allegations and said her office regularly provides financial support to crime victims. This support is under the discretion of Woodard’s office and occasionally includes “unusual” items like furniture or personal family needs.
“Unfortunately, some personal education expenses and other items submitted were confused as victim expenses by mistake – and have since been reimbursed by me personally,” Woodard said. “This oversight is personally and professionally embarrassing. I take full responsibility and am already taking corrective action to improve our internal procedures and review.”
The FOX5 I-Team reportedly discovered several examples of unusual purchases that were reimbursed to Woodard or bought with her Hall County purchase card such as noise-canceling headphones, an antique coffee table, 10 baseball caps, an SAT prep test and more.
Woodard said the independent state review will “clear the air” of any wrongdoing committed by her office.
“In addition, I have asked that the review be expanded to inspect all expenditures for housing, food, education, counseling and other support services for victims and witnesses administered through our local state court,” Woodard said in a second statement. “It is extremely important that we maintain public trust in the administration of local court funding for victims’ services – which is why I spoke to the Georgia Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council executive director today about initiating a joint request for a state review of my office accounting procedures in tracking expenses for victims and witnesses.”
