In August 2025, federal prosecutors announced a sweeping indictment against Buck Aldridge, a sheriff’s deputy in Georgia, on multiple counts of civil rights violations. The charges, which include allegations of excessive force and falsification of records, have reignited discussions about law enforcement accountability and the standards of transparency expected of officers sworn to uphold the law.Although Aldridge gained widespread attention after his involvement in the 2023 shooting of Leonard Cure, a man who had previously been exonerated of a wrongful conviction, officials emphasized that the new federal indictment is not related to that case. Instead, it stems from a series of earlier incidents in which Aldridge allegedly abused his authority and then attempted to conceal misconduct through misleading reports.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, Aldridge was indicted on 13 counts. These include:
Five counts of deprivation of rights under color of law – charges that allege Aldridge violated the constitutional protections of individuals by using force without legal justification.Eight counts of falsification of records – connected to accusations that he prepared misleading or false reports to justify his actions. The indictment outlines four occasions involving three different victims between 2021 and 2022, during which Aldridge allegedly used excessive force. In one instance, he is accused of deploying a Taser against a person who was already restrained. In another, prosecutors say he struck a victim without legal justification and then continued using a Taser after resistance had ended.Immediate Response from the Sheriff’s OfficeFollowing news of the indictment, the Camden County Sheriff’s Office announced that Aldridge had been relieved of his duties effective immediately. Sheriff Kevin Chaney issued a statement stressing the department’s commitment to “transparency and accountability at every level.”
