FLOYD COUNTY, Ga. – Three former Georgia Department of Corrections officers, a GDC investigator, and a former Floyd County deputy have been arrested after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents say they played a role in the assault of an inmate being transported in Floyd County. 

The Floyd County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI to investigate the incident on June 4. 

The sheriff’s office says Deputy Logan Nelson was terminated two days later and charged with violation of oath of office, conduct unbecoming of a deputy, and unsatisfactory performance. 

The GBI arrested four additional people on Friday: 

• Josha Riddle, 32, of Lafayette, was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, battery, and violation of oath of office. 
• Billy Lingerfelt, 63, of Lafayette, was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, battery, and violation of oath of office. 
• Donna Pettyjohn, 56, of Lafayette, was charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit terroristic threats and acts, conspiracy to commit battery, false statements, and violation of oath of office. 
• Hannah Rittweger, 32, of Adairsville, was charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit terroristic threats and acts, conspiracy to commit battery, false statements, and violation of oath of office. 

All four are being held at the Fulton County Jail. 

Details surrounding the incident have not been released. 

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office at 706-291-4111 or the GBI regional investigative office in Calhoun at 706-624-1424. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477). 

The Hotline is delighted to provide fans with a regular dive into the recruiting process through the eyes and ears of Brandon Huffman, the Seattle-based national recruiting editor for 247Sports. He submitted the following report on July 31 …

Dead period goes dead again

For the last time in the foreseeable future, there was a one-week window open in July for recruiting purposes. The quiet period allowed schools to host events, and all four Pac-12 schools headed to the Big Ten took advantage.

But that’s it for the late-July window. Beginning next summer, the entire month of July will be a dead period: No on-campus visits, either official or unofficial, can be held. Same with August.

College coaches love the idea. They are stretched so thin that after the six-week spring evaluation period from mid-April until the end of May, and then with the June contact period. July will offer a much-needed respite.

So, goodbye camps, pool parties, cookouts and barbecues. Hello, vacation.

Week to remember for Oregon

All that said, the Pac-12 schools that enter the Big Ten on Friday each held some sort of recruiting event.

Oregon hosted its loaded Saturday Night Live camp, a tradition in Eugene since Willie Taggart’s lone season (2017). Aside from the former Opening Finals in Beaverton at the Nike Campus, the Ducks’ version is arguably the most talent-rich camp in the region each year.

The 2024 edition was no different, with seven players ranked No. 1 at their position in the 2025 and 2026 classes in attendance, including the No. 1 receiver in the country, Oregon commit Dakorien Moore, the No. 1 athlete in the country, Michael Terry, who has Oregon in his top three, and the No. 1 safety in the country, Trey McNutt, who has the Ducks on his short list.

McNutt will announce his decision on Saturday while Terry plans to announce later in the month. The Ducks would love to land the Ohio and Texas natives, respectively, to their star-studded class.

Other camp attendees included: the No. 1 receiver in the class of 2026, Chris Henry Jr., a commit to Ohio State; the No. 1 tight end in the country, Kendre Harrison; plus Zion Elee, the No. 1 edge rusher in the country; and the No. 1 offensive tackle in the country in 2026, Immanuel Iheanacho.

Henry has been committed to Ohio State for a year, but that hasn’t slowed the Ducks down. Position coach Junior Adams has turned his attention heavily to Henry.

Oregon received a commitment from the No. 2 running back in the country in 2026, Texas resident Tradarian Ball.

More events held out West

While the Ducks were the only Big Ten-bound program that held a recruiting camp, their brethren hosted recruiting events: Washington held the Luau on Montlake; UCLA had its Bruin Pool Party and Barbecue; and USC held a barbecue and cookout.

The Trojans received positive momentum from the weekend for their 2025 class when longtime Georgia linebacker commit Jadon Perlotte flipped his pledge from the Bulldogs, where he committed in December 2022, to the Trojans.

And yet Perlotte wasn’t even their highest-profile commitment from Georgia. That honor went to the No. 1 linebacker in the class of 2026, Xavier Griffin.

While the Trojans had three earlier pledges from the Southeast all reverse course and de-commit, they are hoping Perlotte and Griffin stay on board.

USC also added a local product in St. John Bosco athlete Josh Holland, an athlete in the 2026 class.

Washington continued its torrid July by adding Rylon Dillard-Allen, a former Arizona State commit who opened things up and then picked the Huskies. And they are trending for Zac Stascausky, a former Minnesota commit from Portland, who spent Saturday on Montlake instead of in the Twin Cities and de-committed from the Gophers earlier this week.

Meanwhile, the Bruins went heavy on 2026 targets, although they did offer a scholarship to Polynesian Bowl All-Star punter Lennox Miller.

Utes land Southland lineman

Few schools do a better job evaluating and developing defensive linemen than Utah, and coach Kyle Whittingham may have found another gem, albeit one from a high-profile program.

Utah landed a commitment from Semi Taulanga, a key part of Mater Dei High School’s state championship defense who had the option to sign with UCLA or Brigham Young.

Almost Dunn

Aaron Dunn, the No. 2 prospect in Utah and the top uncommitted offensive lineman out west, has an announcement date set.

Dunn will reveal his college choice Aug. 8 on the 247Sports YouTube Channel, and he has a heavy former Pac-12 flavor in his final five.

The four-star prospect will choose from the two home-state schools, BYU and Utah, as well as from Oregon, UCLA and USC.

Each school welcomed him for official visits in May and June.

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*** Follow me on Twitter/X: @WilnerHotline

Originally Published: August 2, 2024 at 8:22 a.m.

Five Georgia teams will be nationally televised over 10 days this month during ESPN’s 15th High School Football Kickoff series of six games, the network announced Thursday. The teams are Carrollton, Woodward Academy, Grayson, Milton and Rabun Gap-Nacoochee.

ESPN2 will televise Carrollton’s game at Woodward Academy on Aug. 16. Carrollton quarterback Julian Lewis, a five-star prospect committed to Southern Cal, is the state’s most high-profile high school player.

Woodward Academy, Georgia’s Class 6A runner-up last season, is compelling because of three sons of former NFL players. They are Jerome Bettis Jr. (son of Bettis Sr.), R.J. Harrison (son of Rodney Harrison) and Amarri Irvin (son of Sedrick Irvin).

ESPN2 will cover Grayson’s game at Thompson of Alabama on Aug. 22. Thompson has been Alabama’s state champion in the highest class four of the past five seasons. Grayson made Georgia’s Class 7A semifinals last season.

Milton’s game at American Heritage of Florida will be on ESPN on Aug. 23. Both teams have several top-20 national rankings. Milton won Class 7A last season and returns 18 of 22 starters.

Rabun Gap, a Rabun County boarding school that plays in a North Carolina private league, is playing Baylor of Tennessee in Chattanooga on Aug. 25. ESPN will televise. Five Rabun Gap seniors, including Georgia Tech pledge Justin Hasenhuetl, are committed to major Division I teams.