RC Oglesby to Go to Trial Next Year for Child Exploitation

Former Hart County Commissioner RC Oglesby is expected to go to trial next summer on child exploitation charges.

The charges stem from the investigation into charges against Oglesby of racketeering.

In February 2021, Hartwell Assistant Police Chief Stan Sayer said when his officers were investigating the RICO case against Oglesby, they were assisting the GBI with an execution of a search warrant on November 7, 2019, at Oglesby’s home.

Sayer said during the search warrant Oglesby’s phone was seized and taken to the GBI Cyber Center.  On that phone, they found one image of child pornography, and Oglesby was charged with sexual exploitation of a child.

Oglesby has pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial.

Hart County Clerk of Court Frankie Gray told the Hartwell Sun that Superior Court Judge Harvey Wasserman has ordered Oglesby’s case to be ready for trial in June 2023.

In November 2019, Oglesby and his son, Stephen Oglesby were charged under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act or RICO on charges of the illegal use of EBT cards.

Oglesby is accused of buying EBT cards for pennies on the dollar from legitimate owners of those cards, then using them to buy food for his wife’s restaurant, Ludi’s, located next to the car wash, and for the cafeteria food at Tenneco.

RC Oglesby was later indicted on 10 counts of Shoplifting, and 2 counts of Racketeering.

In October 2020, Governor Brian Kemp suspended Oglesby from his duties as a County Commissioner after he was indicted pending the outcome of a trial.

He later ran for re-election but lost. So far, a trial date for the RICO charges has not been set.