TIFTON — A former Tift County High School principal has been arrested on theft and credit card abuse charges.
Chad Stone, 50, of Tifton turned himself into the county jail Wednesday, a statement from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said. He was charged with theft by taking and unauthorized use of a financial transaction card-misuse of government-issued cards, the statement said.
Tifton police asked the GBI to investigate on Feb. 6; on Feb. 12, Stone resigned as principal, the GBI said.
The Tift County Board of Education had refused to renew his contract at their Jan. 11 meeting. Then-Board chair Jonathan Jones stated following the motion that the decision came as a result of an incident involving Stone last September.
Tift County School officials stated “The charges were brought in connection with multiple incidents that were identified during the investigative period that was initiated based on the original (Professional Standards Commission) complaint.”
Once the investigation is complete the case file will be given to the Tift County District Attorney’s office for prosecution, the GBI statement said.
Anyone with information on this case should contact the Tifton Police Department at 229-382-3132 or the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Sylvester at 229-777-2080. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597- TIPS (8477), online at https://GBI.Georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.