Houston sheriff lifts jail ban on public defender

WARNER ROBINS — Houston County Public Defender Nick White will be allowed back in the county jail Monday, Sheriff Cullen Talton said.

White was banned from the jail May 24 on Talton’s orders. The ban was based on allegations that White had a questionable relationship and excessive visits with a female inmate, and that he violated jail rules.

White “apologized to me Friday and then this morning,” Talton said Tuesday. “I told him we had rules and regulations at the jail that we had to go by, and I would let him go back to the jail.”

Talton said he accepted White’s apology. The pair met with the Houston County Commission at its Tuesday meeting, Talton said.

“We talked it out, and I think we’ve all come to an agreement that we would all try to get along.”

In a letter faxed to the media, White addresses the Houston County Commission, Talton and residents, apologizing “for the recent issue of my being banned from the jail.”

“While my intentions were always professional, I acknowledge an appearance of favoritism toward a client and the unintentional violation of jail visitation policies,” White wrote. “I deeply regret the matter and blame no one but myself.”

He will try to follow the rules in the future, he wrote.

White was accused of visiting a female inmate, whose name was not disclosed, 28 of 32 days with some visits lasting as long as three hours. He also was accused of bringing food and poetry and playing cards with the inmate, which jail policy and state law forbid.

White said last week he did nothing inappropriate.

He admitted to sharing food and playing cards with the inmate, as well as giving her a poem for her child.

However, he said his visits were not limited to that one inmate, nor did he spend all of three hours with her.

At the time, he called the ban politically motivated because of a disagreement he had with Talton. Talton denied the claim.

When contacted by phone, White said he had no further comment beyond his letter.

To contact writer Jennifer Burk, call 256-9705.

This story was originally published June 2, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Houston sheriff lifts jail ban on public defender."