The mayor of Thomson, Georgia, has been acquitted by a jury after facing charges related to an incident involving a bottle of gin left in a ditch for a state prison work crew. The mayor, Benjamin “Benji” Cranford, was found not guilty of furnishing prohibited items to inmates and attempting to commit a felony.
The incident in question occurred when Cranford purchased a bottle of Seagram's Extra Dry Gin from a liquor store and then dropped it in a ditch across the road. While prosecutors alleged that this act was intentional, Cranford's defense argued that the bottle fell out of his vehicle as he was adjusting his Bluetooth wireless connection.
During his testimony, Cranford stated that he did not recall the specifics of the incident but mentioned that he typically placed liquor bottles in the cupholder of his car door. He explained that he would often open and close the car door to reset his Bluetooth connection, as he was not particularly tech-savvy.
Cranford claimed that he purchased the gin based on advice from a friend who suggested it could prevent malaria due to the quinine content in tonic water. He maintained that he had no connection to the work crew from the Jefferson County Correctional Institution and had no motive to provide alcohol to strangers.
Prosecutors contended that Cranford's actions were deliberate, pointing to surveillance footage showing him purchasing the gin, driving across the road, and then leaving the bottle in the ditch. A witness from the inmate work crew testified that individuals had previously thrown prohibited items to inmates, prompting him to monitor the area closely.
Following his acquittal, Cranford has been reinstated as mayor and is entitled to back pay. The case, which attracted media attention, highlighted the complexities of the legal system and the importance of evidence in determining guilt or innocence.
