Prosecutor Says Chatsworth Judge "Wanted To Get In The Pants" Of Woman Seeking Warrant; Defense Says Angela Garmley Came On To Bryant Cochran

  • Wednesday, December 3, 2014

A prosecutor told a federal jury on Wednesday morning that the former chief magistrate at Chatsworth, Ga., abused his power when he sought "to get in the pants" of a woman who came before him seeking a warrant.

However, the defense in the trial at Rome, Ga., said it was Angela Garmley who came on to Magistrate Bryant Cochran. Attorney Page Pate said Cochran admittedly did call numerous police officers, including his cousin, after he said he was told that Ms. Garmley had drugs in her car. Prosecutor Jeff Davis said it was Cochran behind planting drugs on the Garmley vehicle.

The six-count indictment says he conspired to have a citizen falsely arrested, and also says he was involved in the distribution of meth.

Prosecutor Davis told the jury that the defendant "used his power to serve his sexual desires and to have someone arrested falsely."

He said Ms. Garmley was attacked by three people at a trailer park near her home on April 8, 2012, and a few days later she went with her sister to the magistrate's office to seek to take out warrants. He said Magistrate Cochran took her back into his office and closed the door.

He said Cochran told her his wife was not fulfilling his needs and he needed a mistress. He said Cochran stated that if she went along "she would be happy about the outcome of her case." He said the magistrate also checked out her cell phone and her Facebook account.

The jury was told that Cochran directed Ms. Garmley to come back in a week "wearing a dress and no panties."

The prosecutor said Ms. Garmley had never met Cochran before, though he was friends with her then-husband, Joe Garmley.

Prosecutor Davis said Ms. Garmley gave Cochran her cell phone number and they began to exchange texts and calls. He said she also sent him a photo of herself scantily clad. He said she drove to the courthouse with a dress and no panties, but could not bring herself to go inside.

He said, "She couldn't go through with it. She couldn't trade sex for justice."

The prosecutor said Cochran did charge two of those involved in the alleged attack on Ms. Garmley, but gave them low bonds.

He said after the matter was made public, Ms. Garmley was riding in a white Dodge Challenger that was stopped by Murray County officer Josh Greeson "for not dimming the lights." He said there was a lengthy search of her car and that Capt. Michael Henderson, first cousin of Cochran, came to the scene. 

He said drugs were not found in the vehicle, but they were located attached under the vehicle after Capt. Henderson made a four-minute phone call to Cochran.

Both Greeson and Henderson were sent to prison on charges of making false statements.

Prosecutor Davis said after charges were brought against Ms. Garmley, Murray County prosecutors "smelled a rat" and asked the GBI and FBI to investigate. Charges were dropped against Ms. Garmley.

The prosecutor said the drugs were planted by a tenant of Cochran's, who did so after making a late-night visit to the residence of Ms. Garmley and then climbing out a window next to where the vehicle was parked.

The jury was told that Cochran earlier had an affair with a paralegal with the public defender's office and that he made unwanted advances toward women in his office. He said he rubbed against one of the women and put his hands up her shirt and down her pants.

He said of Ms. Garmley, "She's far from perfect."

Attorney Pate said the prosecutor "told an incredibly interesting story, but there is no evidence to support it."

He said Ms. Garmley had been a meth user, and he said the three people who allegedly attacked her were involved in meth with her.

The attorney said on the day of her traffic stop that Ms. Garmley had used meth and pills.

He said Cochran had "flirted with her" but did nothing more. He said it was Ms. Garmley who was trying to use sex to get the judge on her side.

Attorney Pate said later Ms. Garmley worked with a lawyer "to try to make some money on this." He said Ms. Garmley approached women in the Cochran office to get ammunition for her case.

He said Cochran "began getting a lot of tips" that Ms. Garmley was on drugs, and he said he did speak with numerous officers on the topic.

He said officer Greeson "made a valid stop" of the Garmley vehicle and at first did not know it was hers. He said he and Capt. Henderson have never said that Cochran was involved in planting drugs.

Concerning charges that he sexually harassed women in his office, he said one of the women sent him sexually suggestive cards and bared part of her breast to him in the office.

 

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