Quitman Police Chief Lawrence McGee Charged After Allegedly Keeping Donated Raffle Handgun

Quitman Police Chief Lawrence McGee, 44, was arrested on October 14, 2026, and charged with one count of felony theft by taking and one count of violation of oath of office. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) says he kept a handgun that was donated to the Quitman Police Department for a raffle at a regional traffic enforcement meeting. A Brooks County grand jury indicted him, the city has placed him on administrative leave, and the case is with the Southern Circuit District Attorney’s Office. He has been charged, not convicted, and no trial date has been reported.

Quitman Police Chief Lawrence McGee: Quick Facts

Detail	What is known
Accused official	Lawrence McGee, 44, Quitman police chief
City and county	Quitman, Brooks County, Georgia
Investigating agency	Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI)
Investigation requested	February 3, 2026, by the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office
Alleged conduct	Keeping a donated handgun meant for a raffle; the gun was donated in January 2026
Charges	One count of felony theft by taking (O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2) and one count of violation of oath of office (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-1)
Indictment	Returned by a Brooks County grand jury
Arrest	October 14, 2026; booked into the Brooks County Jail
Bond	CBS Atlanta reported he was released on bond; amount not located
Employment	Placed on administrative leave, per WALB
Prosecutor	Southern Circuit District Attorney’s Office
Trial date and plea	None confirmed

What Does the GBI Say Lawrence McGee Did?

According to the GBI, the Quitman Police Department received a donated handgun in January 2026 for a raffle at a regional traffic enforcement meeting, and McGee kept it for himself instead of having it raffled. The Brooks County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI to investigate on February 3, 2026. A grand jury returned an indictment, an arrest warrant followed, and McGee was arrested on October 14, roughly eight months after the request. WSB-TV and CBS Atlanta carried the same account.

GBI announcement | WALB report | CBS Atlanta report

The public announcement does not name the donor, describe the handgun’s make or value, say whether it was recovered, or give McGee’s response. Those details should not be assumed.

Why Was Lawrence McGee Placed on Administrative Leave?

WALB reported that the City of Quitman placed McGee on administrative leave. City Manager James Lawrence said police services would continue under the department’s next-ranking officer and declined further comment because it is a personnel matter.

Administrative leave is an employment step. It is not a conviction or a finding that the allegations are true. A city personnel review and the criminal case can proceed separately, and no termination, resignation or certification action has been confirmed.

What Is Felony Theft by Taking Under Georgia Law?

O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2 says a person commits theft by taking when they unlawfully take, or unlawfully appropriate, property belonging to someone else with the intent to deprive the owner of it. It covers a person who lawfully has custody of property but then converts it to personal use. It does not require a sale.

To convict, prosecutors would have to prove the elements beyond a reasonable doubt, including who owned or controlled the handgun, why it was given to the department, what McGee did with it and that he intended to deprive the rightful owner or recipient.

What Is the Penalty for Theft by Taking in Georgia?

Penalties are set by O.C.G.A. § 16-8-12. Theft is generally a misdemeanor unless an exception applies. Two exceptions are relevant here:

• Firearm theft: If the property was a firearm, the penalty is one to ten years in prison, and five to ten years for a second or later conviction. The firearm provision applies regardless of the gun’s dollar value.
• Government officer or employee: If property is taken by an officer or employee of a government in breach of their duties, the penalty is one to 15 years, a fine, or both.

The GBI has not said which provision prosecutors used to grade the charge, and the indictment has not been published. Treat these as the possible ranges under the statute, not a prediction of any sentence. Check the current text of the statute before relying on it.

What Is Violation of Oath of Office Under O.C.G.A. § 16-10-1?

O.C.G.A. § 16-10-1 makes it a felony for a public officer to willfully and intentionally violate the terms of the oath required by law. A conviction carries one to five years in prison. Prosecutors would have to identify the oath, show how the alleged conduct violated it and prove the intent the statute requires. The GBI has not published the oath language or the facts behind this count.

The two counts have separate penalty provisions. Do not add them together to estimate a sentence without the indictment and the rules on merger and sentencing.

What Happens After a Grand Jury Indictment in Georgia?

An indictment is a formal accusation, not a finding of guilt. The case now moves through bond conditions, arraignment, evidence disclosure and pretrial motions, then a plea or trial. A conviction requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The GBI turned its file over to the Southern Circuit District Attorney’s Office, which will decide how to proceed in Brooks County Superior Court.

What We Still Do Not Know About the Quitman Police Chief Case

Unconfirmed detail	Why it matters
Make and value of the handgun	Relevant to property records and how the theft count was graded
Identity of the donor	May show who owned the gun and under what conditions it was donated
Whether the gun was recovered	Affects the evidence and any property-recovery issues
Full indictment and statutory subsections	Would show exactly what is alleged on each count
McGee’s plea or response	Not in the GBI announcement
Bond amount and conditions	Not located
Trial date	None confirmed
Final employment status or POST certification action	Only administrative leave has been reported

Quitman Police Chief Lawrence McGee: Timeline

Date	Event
January 2026	The Quitman Police Department receives a donated handgun intended for a raffle.
February 3, 2026	The Brooks County Sheriff’s Office asks the GBI to investigate.
October 14, 2026	McGee is arrested and booked into the Brooks County Jail after a grand jury indictment; WALB reports he is placed on administrative leave.
October 15, 2026	The GBI announces the charges and says the file went to the Southern Circuit District Attorney’s Office; CBS Atlanta reports he was released on bond.
As of October 17, 2026	No plea, conviction or trial date reported.

Lawrence McGee Charges: Frequently Asked Questions

What is Quitman Police Chief Lawrence McGee accused of?

The GBI says he kept a handgun donated to the Quitman Police Department for a raffle instead of including it in the raffle. He is charged with felony theft by taking and violation of oath of office.

When was Lawrence McGee arrested?

On October 14, 2026, after a Brooks County grand jury returned an indictment. He was booked into the Brooks County Jail, and CBS Atlanta reported he was released on bond.

What is the penalty for theft of a firearm by taking in Georgia?

Under O.C.G.A. § 16-8-12, one to ten years for a firearm, and one to 15 years if the property was taken by a government officer or employee in breach of duty. Which provision applies to McGee has not been announced.

What is the penalty for violation of oath of office in Georgia?

One to five years in prison on conviction under O.C.G.A. § 16-10-1.

Is Lawrence McGee still Quitman’s police chief?

He was placed on administrative leave. No firing or resignation has been confirmed.

Was the handgun recovered?

The GBI has not said.

Has McGee been convicted?

No. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Who is prosecuting the case?

The Southern Circuit District Attorney’s Office, after the GBI turned over the case file.

How can someone share information about the case?

The GBI Regional Investigative Office in Thomasville can be reached at 229-225-4090, or the GBI tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477).

What the Lawrence McGee Case Means for Quitman Residents

Police services in Quitman continue under the department’s next-ranking officer while the criminal case and city review proceed. The confirmed facts are the arrest, the two charges, the referral to prosecutors and the leave decision. Everything else, from the gun’s value to the next court date, is still open.

For related coverage of another police employee facing a theft investigation, read Johnson City Police Officer Fired Amid TBI Theft Investigation, What Is Confirmed and What Tennessee Law Says.

Sources

1. GBI: GBI Arrests Quitman Police Chief for Theft by Taking, October 15, 2026
2. WALB: Quitman chief of police placed on administrative leave; GBI investigating
3. CBS Atlanta: Georgia police chief facing felony charge for taking handgun meant for raffle, GBI says
4. WSB-TV: Georgia police chief arrested for theft
5. O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2, Theft by taking
6. O.C.G.A. § 16-8-12, Penalties for theft
7. O.C.G.A. § 16-10-1, Violation of oath by public officer

This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is a legal-information website, not a law firm. Criminal charges are allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Official records and later court orders control.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the GBI announcement and contemporaneous reporting from WALB, CBS Atlanta and WSB-TV, and the Georgia statutes cited, as of October 17, 2026. Last Updated: October 17, 2026.