Julia Pierce | July 27, 2026

Over the past several months, I have provided responses from Open Records requests that I have performed to the Marion County Board of Commissioners’ and their clerk, Heather Wright, because of the allegations that citizens had brought forward about county road department employees stealing time by clocking others in. I evidenced three different pay periods in 2026 (March 1 -15, March 16 – 28, and March 29 – April 11) to show there were many employees that were getting overpaid for time they didn’t work or were underpaid for time they did work. One of those employees, recently resigned from the Marion County Road Department and has come forward to share a detailed list of items he has observed while working for the road department.

Anthony Tyler contacted me, first to let me know that when he came back to work for the Marion County Road Department he was promised comp time, which is why we didn’t see his OT on his pay stubs. What he also shared was that when he resigned, the county clerk, Heather Wright, told him that they weren’t legally allowed to pay comp time, and refused to pay his time when he resigned. Mr. Tyler indicated that he contacted Marshall Fontaine and Shane Grier, who did not return his call, and he then contacted George Neal about this issue. It wasn’t until Mr. Tyler made it very clear to George Neal that if the county did not pay him his comp time, he would be putting in a complaint with the department of labor. He indicated that if they refused to acknowledge his comp time, then his records indicate he wasn’t paid overtime which is illegal in the state of Georgia. Mr. Tyler indicated that George Neal had the county pay him promptly and appropriately.

Mr. Tyler indicated that he resigned from the county road department because it was clear that the multiplicity of his complaints to the county manager and the sheriff were going unanswered and that he was experiencing retaliation for bringing these concerns and the evidence of misconduct forward. Therefore, he approached me and gave me permission to share. What he provided to me both confirmed what citizens had brought forward, what open records requests were producing, and it brought even more.

I want to first thank Mr. Tyler for his hard work in this county and for the honesty and integrity that he has shown and maintained, but also for the courage he has to come forward. That being said, I will be evidencing his notes from all he witnessed and explain them where needed.

Mr. Tyler’s Notes in 2025 and 2026

On January 10, 2025, Mr. Tyler’s notes speak about the following: (1) Eric’s wife, in which he explained to me was a note he made because Eric’s wife works for the water side of the county; (2) Johnny and Jeremiah smoking, in which Mr. Tyler explained that they were smoking marijuana, on their lunch break; (3) stealing time, though at this point it doesn’t go into who was stealing time; (4) road workers being late for work everyday, but getting clocked in and out as though they are working; (5) riding around with deer rifles and family in the county vehicles; (6) the county truck smelling like marijuana; and (7) Jeremiah writing himself in for on call every weekend, which Mr. Tyler expressed that he believes that Jeremiah did this to ensure that he received the $50.00 per day stipend and any overtime that came with being on-call, which should have been made available on a rotation to all the road employees.

On January 13, 2025, as evidenced by the image below, Mr. Tyler’s notes indicated that Eric, Jeremiah, and Johnny were late for work.

On February 13, 2025 and February 14, 2025, he noted that Eric worked on his personal truck most of the day for both days while he was on the clock after coming in late to work.

On February 17, 2025, Mr. Tyler indicated that he spoke with Sheriff Derrell Neal. Mr. Tyler indicated to me that he spoke with the sheriff about the drug usage by the road employees, in which he said that he would follow up.

On February 19, 2025, Mr. Tyler noted that Eric was out on February 17, 2025, and Jeremiah, Johnny, and Roy were late for work.

On February 24, 2025, Eric was late for work.

On February 26, 2025, Eric, Jeremiah, and Johnny were late. (Mr. Tyler wrote 2026 as the year, but he meant 2025).

On February 27, 2025 and February 28, 2025, Jeremiah left work early.

The image above indicates the following:

On March 3, 2025, Eric was late.

On March 4, 2025, Eric was late and Johnny left work early.

On March 5, 2025, Eric and Jeremiah were late, and Johnny left work early.

On March 6, 2025, Jeremiah was late.

On March 24, 2025, Mr. Tyler noticed that Johnny was clocked in and out, but he was not at work that day, and he further indicates that his time was not crossed out, which meant that Johnny was paid for work that he did not do for a day he wasn’t at work at all. This also indicates that someone else clocked Johnny in.

Here is the image of that time punch card for Johnny where you can see that “7:00” was written in pen on line 6, and he was clocked out by the time machine, as well as the entry was not crossed through. You also will observe that he was out both Mondays and wrote in his time for Friday, March 31, 2025, though he was also clocked out this day. Why didn’t he used the time machine when he clocked in those days instead of writing it in? We see that the time machine was working those days because it was used to clock him out.

On March 27, 2025, Jeremiah was not at work this day, but was clocked in and out by someone, and Mr. Tyler noticed that his time wasn’t crossed out, so Jeremiah was paid for a day he did not work.

On May 29, 2025, Mr. Tyler noted that he was speaking with two citizens, who mentioned seeing wild hogs, in which one of those citizens asked Mr. Tyler if he carried a gun in the county truck. Mr. Tyler indicated that he did not, and that it was against company policy. The citizen indicated that there were a lot of worse things being carried in the other county trucks.

On June 29, 2025, Mr. Tyler indicated that both Jeremiah and Johnny showed up to work on Doyle Rd. high. Mr. Tyler noted that he told another road employee, Ron, about it and that employee indicated that he was aware that Jeremiah and Johnny (who Mr. Tyler confirmed ride in the same county truck), were high because he got something out of Jeremiah’s truck and that the truck smelled like marijuana, as though they had just finished smoking.

On September 8, 2025, Mr. Tyler noted that Johnny clocked in at approximate 6:30, but that he didn’t get to work until 9:30 A.M. This also indicates that someone clocked Johnny in.

On September 13, 2025 and September 14, 2025, Mr. Tyler noted that Johnny wrote himself down for on call for the water department. I performed an open records request to ask who was responsible for assigning the on-call rotation, and Heather Wright told me that it was Jeremiah’s job as the road department supervisor.

So my question here is why was Johnny allowed to write himself in to make the stipend and any possible overtime, if the roads supervisor, which is Jeremiah is responsible for assigning the on-call rotation?

On September 17, 2025, Johnny was clocked in by Roy at approximately 6:30, but Johnny did not get to work until approximately 12:00 noon. Mr. Tyler also noted that Johnny was allowed to make 45 minutes of overtime that day, where if he wasn’t at work for 4 of those hours, Johnny should not have been allowed overtime.

On October 7, 2025, Johnny was clocked in and out of work, but wasn’t at work and did not come in to work.

Mr. Tyler indicated that he wanted to run a test to see if he would be clocked in for time he worked even though he was sick and if his time would be allowed to remain. Mr. Tyler said he asked Ron to clock him in. Mr. Tyler shared that when he came in the next day, he noticed that his time was stricken through and “Sick” was written on his time card. This showed him that the others were willing to keep making money for time they didn’t work, but ensured that Mr. Tyler didn’t get the same benefit they were getting. Mr. Tyler also indicated that Johnny was out on October 7, 2025, as indicated above, but his time wasn’t crossed through and marked as “Sick.”

On October 13, 2025, Roy was on vacation all week, but Ron clocked everyone in. Mr. Tyler indicated that when he asked Ron about it, Ron told him that Jeremiah sent him a text message telling him that Roy was not going to be there all week, but that it was okay to clock everyone else in.

On October 22, 2025, Ron clocked everyone in. Mr. Tyler indicated that he spoke with Ron about 12:45 and Ron told him that Jeremiah did not come in on October 20, 2025, but that he was clocked in and out. After following up, Ron indicated that the date that Jeremiah was out was actually October 21, 2025 and that he had the initial date wrong.

On October 23, 2025, Ron clocked everyone in.

On October 27, 2025, Ron stated to Mr. Tyler that Roy Deal didn’t come into work, but was clocked in and out. Mr. Tyler noticed on the time cards that three of the guys were clocked in at 7:00 am and Johnny was clocked in at 7:01 AM.

On October 30, 2025, Mr. Tyler indicated that Roy Deal clocked Jeremiah in and out as though Jeremiah was at work, though he was not.

Here is a copy of Jeremiah’s time card that Mr. Tyler captured, where we can see on line 5, that time was punched in and then out for Jeremiah on October 30, 2025.

Mr. Tyler also indicated that he was sure that Johnny left work early and was in Jeremiah’s county truck, which meant that he either went to Jeremiah’s house to get the truck early that morning, or he drove it home the night before.

On October 31, 2025, Mr. Tyler indicated that he took 8 hours of comp time, but that Ron indicated to him that Jeremiah didn’t work this day either but that he was clocked in and out as though he was at work. He notes that Eric asked Ron why he didn’t clock everyone in.

On November 3, 2025, Mr. Tyler indicated that Eric was late, but that Roy clocked him in as though he were on time. He indicated that he was on the sidearm mower at 127 and Bethlehem Rd., when Eric drove by him at 7:10 on his way to work.

On November 4, 2025, Mr. Tyler noted that Ron clocked everyone in, that Eric was late, and that he passed him on 127 at 7:03 AM, while Mr. Tyler was on the mower.

On November 5, 2025, Mr. Tyler indicated that Eric was late again, and that he passed by Mr. Tyler at 7:11 A.M.

Mr. Tyler indicated further that Ron called him and said that Jeremiah and Johnny and Connie had to go to some class on how to grade roads.

It is unclear which day in November that Mr. Tyler’s note covers that indicates Jeremiah was out of work, but it does indicate that he was clocked in and out for both days. He indicates in the next note, where the date in November is also unknown that Jeremiah’s mother in law passed away on Monday of this week and that he was supposed to only get 2 days of grievance pay but that he took the whole week off and was paid for those other days that were not inclusive in grievance pay.

It is plausible to infer that the dates of these incidents were Monday, November 10, 2025 through Friday November 15, 2025, because his last note was November 5, 2025, which was a Wednesday and his next note was November 19, 2025 and November 20, 2025.

Mr. Tyler further indicated that Ron told him that he took a picture of Jeremiah’s time card.

On November 19, 2025 or November 20, 2025, Mr. Tyler indicated that Ron had witnessed Caleb Hall pull into the North pit in his duelly pulling his trailer. He indicated Ron stated that Caleb has been getting clay from the county for free and that Jeremiah and “the gang” leave the loader at the pit for Caleb to use, even on the weekend.

An allegation came forward, according to Mr. Tyler, from a citizen in Schley county that Caleb has been selling the clay he gets for free from the county.

On December 3, 2025, Mr. Tyler went to get a haircut in the county and noted that he was told that an allegation by another citizen came forward that Connie was getting her marijuana from Eric and Jeremiah. This could be a plausible allegation considering that we just found out from Georgia Outdoor News that Eric was caught by the DNR with 2 bags of marijuana in his possession.

We all know that beauty and barber shops are where all the tea gets spilled. Some if it is true and some of it is not. I am not accusing anyone of anything here, I am simply relaying the message I have been provided.

On January 22, 2026, Mr. Tyler noted that Jeremiah was out this day, but he was clocked in and out as though he were at work and that his entry wasn’t crossed through by him and indicated as “Sick” or “Vacation” time.

On February 5, 2026, Mr. Tyler’s notes indicate that Jeremiah, Johnny, Anthony Allen, and Eric were all late for work, but were clocked in by Roy. He further indicated that Jeremiah left work early but was clocked out at 3:41.

On February 23, 2026, Jeremiah was not at work, but was clocked in and out just like he had been there. Mr. Tyler also indicate d that Jeremiah was not there February 24, 2026, but was clocked in and out like he had been there. He indicated that Johnny (not Jeremiah) had the county phone and that Anthony and Johnathan Allen were driving Jeremiah’s county truck.

I am able to validate Mr. Tyler’s note about Jeremiah being clocked in and out and getting paid for the time he was out on February 23, 2026 and February 24, 2026.

Below is Jeremiah Johnson’s time card. Even though it is difficult to read, you can see that there are times available in and out for Monday, February 23, and Tuesday, February 24 of 2026. These entries on his time punch card on the lines 9 and 10. You can also see that Jeremiah was paid for 80 hours of time worked and he was paid overtime and his on-call stipend. So, if Mr. Tyler’s note that Jeremiah was not at work both of these days, why did he get paid for both of these days and why was his time not crossed through and marked as sick?

Mr. Tyler also noted that Johnny was out on February 27, 2026, but was clocked in and out as though he was at work. I have included his time punch card below and his pay stub. It is difficult to read the time punches, but you can see that there is nothing stricken through for February 27, 2026. You can also see that Johnny was paid for 80 hours, overtime and on-call pay. So, if he was out on February 27, 2026, why was he paid overtime? And if Jeremiah wrote himself in for that weekend, why did Johnny also get paid the on-call stipend?

Mr. Tyler indicated on January 15, 2026, that he spoke with sheriff Neal and Deputy Strange about what was going on at the road department and was promised that something would be done.

I would like to add that Mr. Tyler has reported this to the county manager, Connie Harris, and she performed an investigation herself into the allegations of drug usage by the county workers. She visited him and was looking in between the seats of the equipment he was using and found nothing. Later, she closed the investigation indicating that his complaints of the drug usage were unmerited.

Moral of the Story

You should operate yourself with honor and integrity at all times. You should always be kind to your co-workers, because they may be the ones to expose your wrongdoing. You should be careful, if you’re going to do wrong, not to involve others who can corroborate your wrongdoing.

Questions that Need Answers

Why did Mr. Tyler quit if it seems that he was the only one who operated with honesty and integrity?

Why is a citizen taking clay paid for by the county tax payers for county roads?

Why are the road workers leaving county equipment for a citizen to use?

Are the county road employees using illegal drugs while working?

Why are other road employees driving a county truck that is for Jeremiah’s use only?

Is Connie Harris involved in the usage and purchase of illegal drugs?

Are Eric O’Neal and Jeremiah Johnson involved in the distribution of illegal drugs?

Are the road workers carrying their family and guns in the county vehicles?

Are these road workers clocking each other in and out?

Are these road workers getting paid for time they are not actually working?

Why did Heather Wright tell Mr. Tyler that they can’t legally pay comp time if that was a condition of his re-hire with the county road department?

Why did Shane Grier and Marshall Fontaine not return Mr. Tyler’s phone call about his comp time?

Why did it take Mr. Tyler indicating that he would make a complaint with the Department of Labor before George Neal required Heather Wright to issue Mr. Tyler a check paying him appropriately?

What are your questions?

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