Chief Investigator Retires, New Chief and Assistant Chief Appointed After 36 years of service to the citizens of Cherokee County and the State of Georgia, Chief Investigator Dwight Kelley retired at the end of September. A lifelong resident of Ball Ground, Kelley served in uniform patrol and special operations for the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office before accepting a position in 1990 as an investigator in the District Attorney’s Office. In 1997, Kelley was appointed chief investigator, a position he held for 26 years. During that time, Kelley assisted with the prosecution of countless criminal cases, in addition to supervising a growing staff that now includes 20 professionals with extensive law enforcement experience. Effective October 2, 2023, Brandon Owens took over the role of chief investigator, and William Hegwood took on the role of assistant chief investigator. Chief Investigator Owens is a Cherokee County native and U.S. Marine Corps veteran with 26 years of law enforcement experience and extensive training, including completion of the Columbus State Professional Management Program and the Georgia Chiefs of Police Executive Development Program. Assistant Chief Investigator Hegwood possesses 33 years of law enforcement experience and 3,800 hours of specialized training, including completion of the FBI National Academy Class 261 and the Georgia Chiefs of Police Executive Development Program.
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