ALBANY, GA - Testimony got underway Tuesday afternoon in the trial of suspended Dougherty County School Board member Velvet Riggins.
Prosecutors have what they believe to be a solid case against the suspended Riggins, who was arrested in December.
Prior to jury selection prosecutors disclosed they obtained 3 new school lunch applications filed by Riggins in December 2011 and January 2012.
During opening statements, prosecutor Heather Lanier told the jury of 8 women and 4 men that this case is about promise and violation of trust.
She pointed out discrepancies on free lunch forms filled out by Riggins in September 2011 showing she earned only $9,000 a year.
In October of 2011, she listed on the same documents an income of $39,000 while working for the Girl Scouts.
Defense attorney Mark Brimberry said one thing was clear, there was no criminal intent.
"This is about someone in the position of authority who made a promise to the citizens of Dougherty County as a member of the school board to meet a certain standard. To be an example," said Lanier.
"Did Ms. Riggins have the criminal intent when she filled out the September 20, 2011 application?" asked Brimberry, who contended there was nothing criminal in Riggins' filing, merely a mistake.
Testimony did get underway with Dougherty County School Police Investigator JC Phillips testifying.
In his testimony, he talked about how the school lunch fraud investigation into Morningside Elementary Principal Gloria Baker led to the Velvet Riggins investigation following a tip.
Prosecutors also questioned him about other forms of income including school board earnings and child support earnings which were also not disclosed in the filings.
Trial will resume Wednesday at 9 am.
Copyright 2012 WALB. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WALB, a Raycom Media Station. 
