Summary
Sidney Dorsey (born February 23, 1940) is an American former law enforcement officer who served as sheriff of DeKalb County, Georgia from 1996 to 2000. Dorsey was the first African American to serve as sheriff of DeKalb County. When Dorsey lost a 2000 runoff election by challenger Derwin Brown, he arranged the murder of Brown.
Sidney Dorsey | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 23, 1940 |
| Occupation(s) | Law enforcement official, first African-American sheriff of DeKalb County, Georgia, 1996-2000 |
| Spouse |
Sherry Dorsey (m. 1954–2006) |
| Conviction(s) | July 10, 2002 |
| Criminal charge | Conspiracy to commit murder of Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown, a DeKalb County police officer and challenger in 2000 election
racketeering and violation of oath of office of elected official theft by taking of oath of office of elected official several charges of theft by taking of oath of office of elected official |
| Penalty | Life without parole for the conspiracy to commit murder conviction 23 years added for the racketeering and violation of oath of office concurrent 10-15 sentences for the theft by taking of oath of office charges |
| Details | |
| Victims | Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | Georgia |
Atlanta Child Murders Task Force edit
Prior to 1996, Dorsey served on the task force that looked into reopening the case of convicted murderer Wayne Williams. Dorsey appeared as one of many, who voiced public doubt of Williams's guilt of the murders, including some of the victims' relatives. Dorsey is quoted as stating: "Most people who are aware of the child murders believe as I do that Wayne Williams did not commit these crimes". Williams was identified as the key suspect in the Atlanta Child Murders that occurred between 1979 and 1981. In January 1982, Williams was found guilty of the murder of two adult men. Dorsey as an Atlanta homicide detective supervised the first search of Williams' home in 1981.[citation needed]
Derwin Brown murder case edit
On the evening of December 15, 2000, police captain Derwin Brown, who defeated Dorsey that November in the election for county sheriff, was murdered at his home in Decatur, Georgia.[1] On July 10, 2002, Dorsey was convicted of ordering Brown's assassination in order to obstruct Brown's expected probe into corruption occurring in the DeKalb County sheriff's office during Dorsey's term.
Superior Court Judge Cynthia Becker sentenced Sheriff Dorsey to life in prison on the murder conviction, an additional 23 years on racketeering and violation of oath of office convictions and concurrent sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years on his several convictions of theft by taking of the oath of office of an elected official.[2] Dorsey is currently being held at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison.[3][4]
In 2007, it was reported that Dorsey allegedly confessed to his part in ordering the hit on Brown out of bitterness for his defeat in the local county sheriff's election.[5] He claimed he had attempted to abort the assassination plot before Brown's murder but was unsuccessful.[6]
References edit
- ^ King, Michael (April 22, 2019). "These are some of Georgia's most horrific crimes in recent memory". WXIA-TV. Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Former Sheriff Guilty in Successor's Killing". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 11, 2002. p. A14. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- ^ https://services.gdc.ga.gov/GDC/OffenderQuery/jsp/OffQryRedirector.jsp
- ^ https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/where-former-sheriff-sidney-dorsey-now-whereabouts-explored-ahead-the-real-murders-atlanta-id
- ^ Rowson, Kevin (August 17, 2017). "Dorsey Confesses to Ordering Murder". WXIA-TV. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
- ^ "Former DeKalb County Sheriff Dorsey confesses to Derwin Brown slaying". KRXI-TV. August 16, 2007. Archived from the original on April 8, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2019.