Julia Pierce | July 19, 2026

It was brought to my attention by a Marion County citizen, Jim Clark, in a Marion County Facebook Group, “The Virtual Town Hall of Marion County, Georgia,” that a Marion County employee was featured in a magazine, Georgia Outdoor News, regarding a poaching investigation, spearheaded by an agent, Cpl. Calvin Gibson, of the Department of Natural Resources.

The article was not provided in the post by Mr. Clark, in The Virtual Town Hall of Marion County, Georgia, but was later obtained by myself from a private citizen who has requested to remain anonymous.

The article indicates that Eric O’Neal led Cpl. Gibson on a wild goose chase in an effort to obstruct an investigation that was requested by the Marion County Sheriff’s office, in what was called a “hunting from the road case.”

When Eric O’Neal and his Silver Chevy Silverado 2500 truck were identified, Cpl. Gibson inquired of the mother of Eric’s children, who refused to provide Eric’s contact information but indicated that she would contact Eric and notify him that Cpl. Gibson wanted to speak with him about the investigation.

Cpl. Gibson already had obtained “easily identifiable tire tracks that drove up onto the berm,” which were located around Johnson Cemetery Road and Watermelon Lane, and “two expended black 12 gauge Winchester Long Beard shells.” A witness had also identified the “silver-colored Chevy 2500 pickup truck,” and indicated he/she knew the identity of the man driving the truck.

Eric O’Neal contacted Cpl. Gibson around 10:26 PM on March 31, 2025, and Cpl. Gibson and Cpl. Eric Isom went to Eric O’Neal’s residence. Cpl. Gibson indicated that Eric O’Neal “denied being there multiple times” and that Eric O’Neal’s truck was present.

They compared the truck’s tires to the marks that were left on the berm and that his truck matched the witness’s description of the truck. The article further indicates that Eric O’Neal agreed to allow his truck to be searched in which they obtained “two bags of marijuana and an expended 12 gauge black Winchester Long Beard shell that matched the two shells found on the road.”

Eric O’Neal then provided false information to both investigators by stating that there was a second person in the vehicle who was the driver and that they used a 12 gauge Benelli Nova pump shot gun. Eric O’Neal was also ordered to destroy the marijuana in their presence, whereby he crushed the marijuana into the ground. Why they didn’t apprehend it from him as evidence and charge him with possession, I have no clue.

Eric O’Neal was given until 7 P.M. the following day to provide the name of the alleged second suspect who he indicated was the driver and shooter of the pump shot gun. Eric contacted Cpl. Gibson by phone to inform him that there was no second shooter, and Cpl. Gibson met once more with Eric O’Neal at his residency, whereby Eric signed an affidavit to prosecute for hunting without permission.

Game Warden Jonathan Jeffries assisted Cpl. Gibson in the search for “turkey feathers, shotgun shells, or wads.” They located “a third shotgun shell, all three wads and two dead turkeys” on the opposite side of the road, which was a different property with a different owner from the first property that was searched.

Eric O’Neal confessed to “everything,” and showed them the “12 gauge Benelli Super Black Eagle II semi auto shotgun that was chambered for 3 1/2 inch shells.” He was charged with hunting from a public road, hunting from a motor vehicle, hunting without permission, and taking over the daily bag limit. Eric pleaded guilty to all charges and was fined $1600 on July 7, 2025.

Questions that Need Answers

1. Why was Eric not charged with O.C.G.A. § 16-13-30 for Purchase, possession, manufacture, distribution, or sale of controlled substances or marijuana which is a felony conviction?
2. Why was Eric not charged with O.CG.A. § 16-10-24 for obstructing or hindering a law enforcement officer which is a misdemeanor conviction?
3. Why was Eric not charged with O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 for false statements and writings, concealment of facts, and fraudulent documents in matters within jurisdiction of state or political subdivisions?
4. Why did Eric lie several times during this investigation?
5. If marijuana was found in Eric’s truck, does that mean Eric uses illegal drugs?
6. Is Eric operating heavy equipment for the county under the influence of drugs?
7. Has Eric been drug tested by the county?
8. Can we trust an employee with our service, if he is willing to lie, violate the law, use illegal drugs, and provide false information?
9. Why did the sheriff of Marion County not charge Eric with these crimes if he was who called in the game warden and DNR?
10. Is the sheriff of Marion County complicit in allowing Eric O’Neal to continue to use illegal drugs?
11. Should Eric O’Neal be required to immediately submit to a drug test?
12. Has the county manager been notified of Eric O’Neal’s prior and possibly current use of illegal drugs?
13. Is Eric being allowed to drive a company vehicle under the influence of illegal drugs, which would violate any insurance policy for any accident or damage to the vehicle?

Admittedly, this information came timely, because several weeks ago, I drove by Fort Perry Rd and Edgar Jones road and saw a white county truck parked alongside the county road grader, where two individuals were inside the running truck and the smell of marijuana was leaking from it. I have asked around and I was told that Eric O’Neal and Roy Deal were allegedly the two road employees inside the vehicle.

A word to the wise: If you’re an employee with the county, you should probably preserve your drug habits for your personal space and not within a county vehicle, where you can be easily identified.

If you have a story, feedback, or questions, please feel free to contact me at Plumblyne Productions by email at plumblyneproductions@gmail.com or call me at 229-329-2179. Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and follow to stay up to date.