Chairman of Pierce Co. board of eduucation resigns

District attorney says Mark Dixon case closed due to statute of limitations

Mark Dixon

A six-month criminal investigation of allegations against Pierce County board of education chairman Mark Dixon ended without an indictment, but Dixon resigned on Thursday.

The Blackshear Times confirmed an investigation by local law enforcement began last July into a complaint accusing Dixon of having had inappropriate contact with the underage son of an Alma man more than a decade ago. The allegations said also had inappropriate contact with other young people, and supplied them with alcohol and drugs while visiting his home.

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"I totally deny these allegations," Dixon told The Times, adding: "I wish I could say more -- a lot more -- but once I got word these rumors were going around, I immediately contacted a lawyer and he has advised me to say nothing to anyone."

Dixon told the newspaper he had talked with local law enforcement investigators and "answered everything they asked me."

Officers from the Pierce County Aggressive Crime Enforcement Unit completed a 27-page report of their investigation earlier this month and turned it over to the District Attorney's office.

"Our office has reviewed the Blackshear Police/Pierce SO detective's report (regarding Mark Dixon)," said District Attorney George Barnhill in an email to The Times. "We replied to them by letter earlier this week that the alleged acts fall outside of the Georgia Statute of Limitations and are therefore not prosecutable. Since they are not prosecutable under law there will be no presentation to the Grand Jury and no warrants. The case is closed."

Despite being cleared by the prosecutor, there were calls in the community that were joined by newly-elected board of education member David Williams for Dixon to resign.

On Thursday, Dixon submitted a one-line letter of resignation: "I am resigning from the Pierce County Board of Education effective this day, February 19, 2015."