Rockdale Citizen

COVINGTON — Former Conyers resident Anthony Flanagan, a candidate for the District 3 Board of Commissioners seat in Newton County, has a criminal past, according to court documents.

In 1991, Flanagan was charged with aggravated assault and carrying a weapon without a license after he shot a man in the arm who came onto his Conyers property with a .25 automatic pistol, according to documents on file in the Rockdale County Superior Court Clerk’s Office. The man suffered broken bones. Flanagan, who at the time stated that he was acting in self-defense, was charged with aggravated assault and carrying a pistol without a license.

The charge of carrying a pistol without a license was dropped. Flanagan pleaded guilty and was treated as a first offender and sentenced to three years on probation.

In January 1992, he was charged with obstruction of an officer and escape after he left the Rockdale County Courthouse after being found in contempt of court. According to court documents, a chase ensued and Flanagan bit and kicked a sheriff’s deputy. His first offender status was dropped and he was sentenced to serve four years, according to court documents. The actual amount of time served by Flanagan could not be ascertained through court records and the Georgia Department of Corrections did not have information regarding his time served. The Citizen is attempting to get more information from the GDC and the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Flanagan appealed the charges of escape and obstruction to the Georgia Court of Appeals, which reversed the charge of escape but upheld the charge of obstruction of an officer.

In 2009, Flanagan successfully petitioned the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles for a pardon of all charges in both incidents. His civil and political rights, including the right to run for office, were restored, with the exception of the right to own, carry and sell firearms.

According to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles website, pardons may be granted to individuals who have maintained a good reputation in their community, following the completion of their sentence for a criminal offense.

According to records at the Rockdale County Jail, Flanagan has been booked on a variety of charges from the early 1990s until 2003, including deposit account fraud and aggravated assault.

Flanagan could not be reached for comment Friday. He faces incumbent Nancy Schulz in the July 31 Democratic Primary.