Dawson County Women Face Charges for Violation of School Truancy Laws

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Two Dawson County mothers have been arrested and charged with violating Georgia’s school truancy laws.

Morgan Lee, 30, was arrested May 18. She remains in the Dawson County jail and is charged with 14 violations. Anna Peacock was arrested Tuesday. She faces three truancy charges and has been released on her own recognizance.

Sheriff Billy Carlisle said arrests for violations of school truancy laws are very rare. “I don’t believe I’ve seen this since I became sheriff, maybe back in the 1980’s,” he said.

A Dawson County Grand Jury handed down the indictment against the two women and the Northwestern Judicial Circuit Senior Judge John Girardeau issued the arrest warrants.

According to the indictment against Lee, she failed to send her child to Riverview Elementary School 14 times after being notified that the child had more than five unexcused absences.

Peacock’s indictment says she failed to send her child to Black’s Mill Elementary School three times after receiving notice of five unexcused absences.

At the start of each school year, parents are required to sign a form explaining attendance requirements and informing them of penalties for non-compliance.