They say “crime doesn’t pay;” but Jones County Sheriff R.N. “Butch” Reece might disagree.
This Saturday, July 11, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office will hold a public auction to liquidate hundreds of seized and forfeited items - including cars, trucks, ATV’s, tools and electronics – with the resulting monies being used to fund certain aspects of Reece’s department, particularly future drug investigations.
According to Reece, his department has conducted around 20 of these type auctions since he was elected sheriff, generating thousands of dollars which is then used for office needs like equipment, vehicles and weapons.
“These funds can’t be used for any kind of salaries;” Reece said, “but we do purchase equipment, computers, items for the drug squad, new weapons. The auctions help save taxpayers from having to pay for all of these items.”
Sheriff Reece also noted the District Attorney’s Office gets a portion of the proceeds since they assist in the seizures through the court process, which is necessary in order to confiscate the items.
“You can’t just take this property. We have to follow the letter of the law and there is a process to it,” he said. “But when we know property was purchased with drug assets and we can prove it, we’re going to go after those assets and we’re going to take those assets.”
Saturday’s auction will begin at 10 a.m. and will be held in front of the Sheriff’s Office off Highway 18 east in Gray. The auction will be conducted by Macon-area auctioneers, L.W. Benton Company Inc.
Many of the items in Saturday’s auction are available for viewing and online bidding at the company’s website, www.BidderOne.com. Interested buyers can also inspect the property at two viewings on Thursday, July 9, and Friday, July 10, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Sheriff’s Office. Items can also be previewed the morning of the sale beginning at 8 a.m.
For more information on the auction and specific terms of the sale, visit L.W. Benton Company’s website or contact their office at 478.744.0027.
