The assistant to Clayton County Chairman Jeff Turner is in the Clayton County Jail, charged with making false statements about an alleged threat against Turner.
Katrina Fay Holloway, 52, of Decatur, was charged with one count each of false statements and false report of a crime. Online jail records show she was booked at 4:09 p.m. Monday, January 30. She is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Keisha Wright Hill on Tuesday, January 31 at 10 a.m.
The Clayton Crescent has not been able to verify the allegations made in the Nixle post, which were that Turner allegedly had mailed threatening letters to himself using Holloway’s stamps; that she allegedly had seen Turner writing the “John David” e-mails; and that Turner allegedly had asked her to contact local neighborhood activist Carol Yancey through her own personal e-mail address to tell Yancey what to say at public comment and what documents to ask for in Open Records Requests. In addition, the Nixle post alleges two cash payments were made to Turner from a nonprofit organization that it did not name.
In a written statement to The Clayton Crescent, Turner wrote, “I vehemently deny the allegation being made by Dr. Holloway. The GBI conducted a thorough investigation into the matter and then issued warrants as a result of their findings. I am a 23-year law enforcement veteran and now chairman of Clayton County and take these matters seriously. I would never intentional[ly] do anything that would disgrace my name or standing in the community I work, live and play in. I do plan to pursue civil action against Dr. Holloway. I will not allow anyone to lie on me or scandalize my name.”
Turner confirmed that Holloway was fired last Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, I was made aware of the alleged charges involving Dr. Katrina Holloway, my assistant, by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in reference to a report I filed with them about a letter I received that I believed was a personal threat against me in June of 2022,” he wrote.
“I was very disappointed and disturbed by what they reported to me as it related to their investigation.
“I want to make it clear that I DO NOT condone any such alleged nor illegal actions by any employee and no one is above the law.
“As a result, and in line with our civil services rules, I have taken what I deem as necessary and appropriate personnel action. Dr. Holloway is no longer an employee of Clayton County effective January 24, 2023.
“This matter is in the hands of the GBI and any further inquiries should be directed to them.”
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation released this statement:
The GBI has charged Katrina Holloway, age 52, with false statements and false report of a crime after a criminal investigation revealed evidence that Clayton County Chairman Jeff Turner’s secretary (Holloway) mailed Turner a threatening letter. The investigation began in June 2022 after GBI agents received a request from the Clayton County Police Department. There have been several allegations made by Clayton County officials of alleged evidence that will implicate more people in this investigation. So far, no evidence has been provided to the GBI.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the GBI. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Holloway turned herself in to the Clayton County Jail January 30, 2023.
The GBI investigation is active and ongoing. The District Attorney for the Clayton Judicial Circuit has recused her office in this matter. Once the investigation is complete, it will be given to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia or the assigned conflict prosecutor for the case.
Turner’s son, Brandon, is suing two county commissioners, Alieka Anderson and Felicia Franklin, for slander in Clayton County State Court, over false allegations that he is a convicted felon.
Anderson, Franklin, and Commissioner Gail Hambrick, along with the county, are defendants in another suit in the U.S. Northern District of Georgia, in which former Chief Operating Officer Ramona Bivins alleges the three violated her right to free association by terminating her contract after her husband campaigned against a District 4 candidate allied with Anderson, Franklin, former Sheriff Victor Hill, and former CCSO Chief of Staff and political campaign guru Mitzi Bickers.
Bickers is serving time in federal prison on unrelated charges in the Atlanta City Hall bribery scandal.
Hill is scheduled for sentencing to federal prison on February 28 for using his powers as sheriff to abuse pretrial detainees in the Clayton County Jail.
Bickers’ case is on appeal; attorney Drew Findling, who represents both, has said he also will appeal the Hill case.
Yancey, whose fiery public comments have drawn ire from some commissioners, also denied the allegations in CCSO’s Nixle post, writing in a Facebook post, “This slander, libel defamation of character false statements about me stated below. Yep another New lawsuit against interim sheriff Levon Allen and Katrina Holloway to be filed by me….Yep 1 more lawsuit the taxpayers are going to pay. AT NO TIME, DID Chairman Jeff Turner EVER tell me what to put in my public comments speeches.”
Yancey said she was being retaliated against for exercising her First Amendment rights, for “bringing awareness” about problems at CCSO and the jail, and “the fact, I filed a complaint against [Interim Sheriff Levon] Allen, [Maj. Brandon] Criss and other SO with the Governor’s Office, GBI, P.O.S.T., the Sheriff[‘s] Office and USAG in 2022.”
Yancey also forwarded to The Clayton Crescent several e-mails, including one sent July 5, 2022 in which Holloway suggested she pass along information to The Clayton Crescent. Others suggested she send information to a CBS 46 assignment editor or file Open Records Requests for documents on specific topics that The Clayton Crescent has been investigating.
In a separate case, Holloway was granted bond in November 2o22 in Rockdale County on a reckless conduct charge.
Holloway is considered innocent of all charges until and unless convicted in a court of law.
