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Camden County Deputy Charged Following Incident During January 2022 Traffic Stop

January 12, 2023

On January 11, 2023, the Camden County Grand Jury returned a True Bill of Indictment against Camden County Sheriff’s Deputy Christine Newman for the offenses of Aggravated Assault, Simple Battery, Making a False Statement and three counts of Violation of Oath by Public Officer. The charges stem from a traffic stop of Ms. Charis Faria by Deputy Newman on January 16, 2022.

On September 6, 2022, Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Keith Higgins requested the Georgia Bureau of Investigation conduct an investigation into the allegations after the District Attorney’s Office became aware of the incident. The results of the investigation were turned over to the District Attorney’s Office for review, and the case was presented to the Camden County Grand Jury on January 11, 2023.

Following the unsealing of the indictment, a first arrest bench warrant was obtained for Deputy Newman, and she turned herself in to the Camden County Jail. A bond in the amount of $10,000 was set by agreement of the District Attorney’s Office.

DA Higgins stated “I take allegations of public misconduct seriously, which is why the GBI was called in to investigate these allegations. Upon review of the completed investigation, I determined that charges needed to be brought before the Grand Jury.”

Aggravated Assault is a felony with a possible punishment of 1 to 20 years in prison. Simple Battery is a misdemeanor with a possible punishment of up to 12 months in jail. Making a False Statement is a felony with a possible punishment of 1 to 5 years in prison. Violation of Oath by Public Officer is a felony with a possible punishment of 1 to 5 years in prison.

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.