Sanford family attorney threatens Sheriff’s Office with $50 million wrongful death lawsuit
News March 24, 2021
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office is on notice it could be facing a $50 million lawsuit following the death of 18-year-old Jonathan Sanford in the Dawson County Detention Center in June 2020.
In an ante litem notice delivered last week, the Sanford family attorney AJ Richman states: “The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office failed this young boy and his family on multiple levels. Had sheriff’s deputies involved in the arrest, processing and supervision of Jonathan Sanford, at the Dawson County Detention Center performed their job responsibilities correctly, he would be alive today.”
Sanford was arrested on suspicion of DUI in the early evening of June 1. At approximately 6:30 a.m. June 2, he was found unresponsive in a holding cell. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation ruled the death accidental, due to a combined drug intoxication.
Richman claims at least seven hours passed after the Detention Center’s last documented check on Sanford until he was found deceased.
“Mr. Sanford died alone and unmonitored in a Dawson County holding cell,” Richman said. “Mr. Sanford never underwent any medical screenings, evaluations, or any kind of inquiry into his mental or physical condition prior to his placement into an individual holding cell.”
The ante litem calls for a meeting with the Sheriff and his attorney “in hopes the County would do right by the family.” But it also warned, “In the event we are unable to effectively address and resolve this matter with you, please know that the Sanford’s surviving family has authorized us to pursue all available legal remedies available to them and seek damages in the amount of $50 million. This young man had no prior criminal record and had his entire life in front of him when the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office failed him at every turn.”
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
GBI: Dawson County inmate death due to combined drug intoxication
News July 25, 2020
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Medical Examiner has ruled the 18-year-old Dawson County inmate found dead in a cell on June 2, died due to a combined drug intoxication.
Jonathan Sanford who had just graduated from high school and was planning to attend college in the Fall, was arrested on a DUI charge and possession of marijuana. He was found dead in his cell the next day by a Dawson County jailer.
Although the cause of death has been established, the GBI is continuing its investigation. The Sanford family wants to know if their son was given a medical examination and placed on watch. Dawson County Sheriff’s Office Policy and Procedures requires inmates believed to be under the influence of drugs be “kept under close observation.”
The family has hired attorney AJ Richman to conduct a separate investigation to determine whether jail personnel failures contributed to his death.
“Georgia’s sheriffs are responsible for every aspect of a detainee’s health and welfare,” said Richman. “Our local government needs to be transparent, and we are calling upon the sheriff to share with us how Jonathan died in their custody.”
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
.
Attorney for family of teen found dead in Dawson County jail begins investigation
News June 18, 2020
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. –AJ Richman, the lawyer for the family of the man found dead in the Dawson County Detention Center on June 2 issued a statement today (June 18) regarding the death of 18-year-old Jonathan Sanford.
Richman said his law office has started its own investigation to determine whether jail personnel failures contributed to his death. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting a parallel investigation.
“Georgia’s sheriffs are responsible for every aspect of a detainee’s health and welfare,” said Richman. “Our local government needs to be transparent, and we are calling upon the sheriff to share with us how Jonathan died in their custody.”
Richman said in the 18 days since Sanford died, his parents have not been told what caused their son’s death, which prompted their own investigation.
Sanford’s father said earlier this week that Sheriff Jeff Johnson had not spoken to the family since their son’s death.
The family held a demonstration on the city square earlier this week and demanded Johnson’s resignation. Johnson has not returned our phone calls requesting his comment.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
UPDATE: Deceased inmate has been identified
News June 2, 2020
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – The 18-year-old inmate found dead in his cell at the Dawson County Detention Center this morning (June 2) has been identified as Jonathan Sanford of Dawsonville.
The cause of death has not been confirmed at this time.
Sources tell Fetch Your News that Sanford was arrested Monday on a charge of DUI and was found unresponsive at approximately 6:30 a.m. today. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation.
This is the second time in 14 months that an inmate died in the detention center. On April 10, 2019, 57-year-old Joseph Michael Bishop was found unresponsive in his cell.
Fetch Your News has reached out to Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson for comment.
Follow FYN for updates on this story.