By Joe Johnson
State Representative-elect Danny Rampey (R-116) has been charged with additional crimes following his arrest Thursday at a Winder assisted care facility where he was caught burglarizing a residence there and stealing drugs, according to the Barrow County Sheriff's Office.
Rampey, 67, of Statham committed the alleged offenses at Magnolia Estates of Winder, where he is manager, the sheriff's office said. He has managed the facility for 38 years.
Rampry was initially charged with single counts of burglary, possession of a controlled substance, and exploitation of an elder or disabled person, the sheriff's office said.
On Friday, after further investigation that included the execution of search warrants, Rampey was charged with six counts each of burglary, obtaining a controlled substance by theft, exploitation of an elder or disabled person, and one count of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, the sheriff's office said.
He was released that day upon posting a $111,000 bond.
Rampey was elected to the state house in November's general elections, and is scheduled to be sworn-in on Jan. 9. It is unclear how his arrest will effect his taking office.
An investigation was initiated about two weeks ago, after the sheriff's office said it received information about "suspicious activity involving missing medications" at the Winder facility.
The investigation included video surveillance operations that caught Rampey entering residences from which drugs were stolen, according to the sheriff's office.