A newly elected Georgia state lawmaker has stepped down from office after being charged with stealing prescription drugs from a retirement complex, triggering a Jan. 31 special election to fill his seat.
Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) signed an order over the holiday weekend setting up the special election at the end of the month for Daniel Rampey’s state House seat in the GOP-led district.
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Rampey was elected to represent Georgia’s District 116 state House seat in November. He was elected without opposition, securing 18,484 votes, after winning the Republican primary.
He manages operations at the family-owned Magnolia Estates of Winder Assisted Living Center, which offers assisted living and short-term respite care.
There have been more than 19 felony counts filed against the 67-year-old, according to records at the Barrow County Detention Center. The charges include, but are not limited to, unauthorized distribution or possession of a controlled substance, burglary and exploitation, and intimidation of disabled adults, elderly persons, and residents.
Rampey had been under pressure to step down rather than face a possible suspension if he took office when lawmakers convene next week.
“His withdrawal will ensure his constituents have a voice in this session of the General Assembly after the special election is held,” state House Speaker Jan Jones (R) and Speaker-nominee Jon Burns (R) said in a joint statement.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith confirmed to the Washington Examiner on Tuesday that his office received a telephone call from a family member housed at the assisted living center.
“They had suspected that some narcotics were missing from the resident’s room,” Smith said. “We got information from the family that they had set up a recording device and recorded their room as they left, and when they did, they found that Rampey had come into the room unannounced and took some narcotics from a bedside table, which was recorded.”
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Smith added that the sheriff’s office set up a similar sting and allegedly caught Rampey in the act, apparently entering a room and swiping a controlled substance.
The Washington Examiner left multiple messages at Magnolia Estates seeking comment. Those calls were not immediately returned.
