Originally published 3:42 p.m. March 1, 2024
Updated 5:17 p.m. March 1, 2024 with a statement from the Lowndes County School System.
VALDOSTA — A former Lowndes County school superintendent has been indicted, according to law enforcement.
J. Shawn Haralson was indicted by a grand jury on multiple charges of theft and unauthorized use of a financial card, a statement from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office said.
The indictments were linked to earlier accusations Haralson had taken gasoline from the county’s gas barn for his private use, said Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk.
The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which turned its findings over to the district attorney’s office, the statement said.
Haralson became the county’s school superintendent on July 1, 2022. He resigned in June 2023 following allegations that he was filling up his personal vehicle with gas from the county’s gas barn for personal use.
The Valdosta Daily Times reported last March that Haralson filled up his pickup truck and an auxiliary tank in the bed of the truck at the fuel depot on multiple occasions. The school system paid an outside attorney $3,832.50 to investigate the incidents.
After the investigation, Haralson agreed to pay $2,800 to cover the cost of the gasoline. The school board took no disciplinary action. A memorandum agreement between Haralson and the school board indicated the investigator and the board did not believe the superintendent intentionally took gas.
The Lowndes County School System issued a statement Friday: “Lowndes County Schools was notified by the Southern Judicial Circuit District Attorney that indictments have been returned by the Grand Jury on former superintendent J. Shawn Haralson. Haralson tendered his resignation from his position as superintendent at Lowndes County Schools in June 2023.
“The school system has fully cooperated with law enforcement. We have no additional information as it relates to this matter.”