Orr pleads nolo to misdemeanor charges

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Friday, May 27. 2011

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Former Barrow County Emergency Services lieutenant Todd Orr on May 26 pled nolo in connection with the Christmas Day 2010 shooting accident that seriously wounded his pregnant daughter.

But the Barrow County District Attorney’s Office decided not to prosecute Orr for the felony count of child cruelty and misdemeanor count of reckless conduct for which he was indicted in February.

Instead, he was allowed to plead “nolo contendere” to two misdemeanor charges of reckless conduct.

Pleading “nolo contendere” means that Orr did not dispute the charges, but he also did not admit guilt and would accept the court’s sentence. He told the judge that he did not want to put his family through anything else, a source said.

The first charge of reckless conduct was for endangering the safety of his son-in-law, Dustin Thomas, and daughter Tamara Orr; the second was for endangering the safety of the injured daughter, Tiffany Orr.

The discharged bullet led to the amputation of one of Tiffany Orr’s forearms before the birth of her first child. The baby was unharmed in the incident.

The district attorney accused Orr of “consciously disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk that his act of pulling out a loaded rifle and refusing to surrender and struggling over the loaded rifle with said victims after threatening to commit suicide” could cause harm to Dustin Thomas and Tamara Orr and would cause harm to Tiffany Orr.

Superior Court Judge Currie Mingledorff sentenced Todd Orr to 12 months of probation on each count, to be served consecutively for a total of 24 months, and to pay two fines of $750 plus state surcharges. The judge also ordered Orr to undergo both a mental health evaluation and alcohol/drug abuse evaluation and any needed treatment.

He also was directed to have “no violent contact” with his two daughters or Thomas. In addition, he was ordered not to possess firearms during the probationary period.

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#1 Jus saying on 05/27/11 at 11:48 PM [Reply]

But the average man would have been thrown in prison for attempted murder, Why is it that EMS and LEOS are above the law?

#1.1 yeah right on 05/28/11 at 10:05 AM [Reply]

In the good ole town of Winder Ga. it's not what you know it's who you know!! The good ole boys network still rides, what a shame for the "regular" folks!!!

#1.1.1 old in winder on 05/28/11 at 10:32 AM [Reply]

nope.....its just our DA. Scared to go to trial and lose.

#1.2 Victor on 05/30/11 at 10:28 PM [Reply]

There is no such crime in the Georgia criminal statutes as "attempted murder"...

#1.2.1 Law Yur on 05/30/11 at 11:33 PM [Reply]

How about ADW or aggravated assault? Surely those or equivalents are to be found in the O.C.G.A.

#1.2.1.1 Weird on 05/31/11 at 02:41 AM [Reply]

Since you know the OCGA, why dont you tell us what the motive for the crime of Aggravated Assault was in this case? You should go to work for the DA and make the cases. Did you ever think that without the motive they could not charge him? Think before you type please. You will seem smarter if you keep you computer off.

#1.2.1.1.1 Law Yur on 05/31/11 at 08:14 AM [Reply]

Motive is not a requirement for making a charge, securing an indictment or achieving a conviction. It's nice to have one (since jurors love to hear such), but it is not a legal requirement. And your remark about being "smart" was uncalled for, but that is the level of discussion that, it seems, your intelligence and education (or lack thereof) can support.

#2 dianne on 05/28/11 at 06:57 AM [Reply]

Come on people dont start this junk again.Put it to rest.For God sake let the people live a life and they can handle it the best they can with what God has given them.They have done what GOD says to do FORGIVE and now life goes on.It might not be easy but neither is life.

#3 Wally on 05/28/11 at 12:33 PM [Reply]

Are you kidding me? 24 months probation and a $1500.00 fine? And they call this justice? This so called trial was just a waiste of taxpayer money. Someday I hope we have real DA's & Judges in our city's court house.

#3.1 Gomer P. on 05/28/11 at 12:59 PM [Reply]

It cost me that much money on a lousy traffic ticket writ by the local gestapo. Man, there's 2 sets o' laws in this town: 1 for the ordinary folk and . . . .

#3.2 Anonymous on 05/29/11 at 03:01 PM [Reply]

as a personal friend of the orr family i would just like to say that you have no idea what happend that night his family didnt want to press charges because it was a accident. why dont you mind your own business instead of voicing your opinion about a family you dont even know. only they know what happened that night and its not up for us to judge Todd Orr or anyone else because we dont know what really happend. Leave the family alone.

#3.2.1 Anonymous on 05/29/11 at 04:37 PM [Reply]

They judge others and made mean unfounded comments so as to feel better about themselves.

Just ignore, don't let it get under your skin.

#3.3 Just me on 06/03/11 at 09:27 AM [Reply]

AMEN !!! THIS ENTIRE COUNTY IS A JOKE !!! A CIRCUS... COMPLETE WITH CLOWNS AND SIDE SHOWS :)

#3.4 Just me on 06/03/11 at 10:23 AM [Reply]

WTF? THIS IS A JOKE RITE? I GOT 3 YRS PROBATION AND $3100.00 IN FINES FOR MY DOG BITING ANOTHER DOG !!! AND THATS ALL HE GOT FOR SHOOTING HIS DAUGHTER AND ENDANGERING MANY OTHER LIVES !!! WOW !!! WHERE IS THE JUSTICE IN THAT ? OH...I FORGOT...WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BARROW COUNTY !!! MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE TOLD THE JUDGE MY DOG WAS DRUNK...MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE CUT HER SOME SLACK !!! NOW ALL THE IDIOTS OUT THERE KNOW WHAT YOUR DEFENSE IS...JUST BLAME IT ON THE ALCOHOL!!! OR BETTER YET...SAY LT ORR TOLD ME TO DO IT :)

#4 Real DA on 05/29/11 at 04:57 AM [Reply]

We had a real DA, but he shook things up and scared the Barrow establishment so they tossed him for Brad Smith who lacks the courage or ability to do his job properly.

#5 Anonymous on 05/29/11 at 02:30 PM [Reply]

If I remember correctly, alcohol was involved. You can't hold him responsible if he had been drinking. He didn't know what he was doing. Lt. Orr is a fine Christian man and a foundation of the Barrow County community. His sentence was more than tough enough.

#5.1 Duh on 05/29/11 at 04:47 PM [Reply]

DUH...He is responsible because he drank. You make the bed you lie in. No matter what happened he was at fault not the alcohol! Alcohol is NEVER an excuse for accidents or mistakes. If you decide to drink alcohol you are held responsible. Think about a DUI after a fatality wreck. It's the alcohol's fault right?

#5.2 Wally on 05/29/11 at 05:14 PM [Reply]

Wow..... Can't hold him responsible for drinking? Are you an idiot? So if he would have killed his daughter instead of just blowing her arm off then he it still wouldn't be his fault? Please!! And a fine Christian man? Your view on God and and being a Christian are very wrong.... Oh but wait, you have been drinking and your not responsible....

#5.3 Robert on 05/29/11 at 10:38 PM [Reply]

REALLY? Read your B.S.!!! He had been drinking so he can't or shouldn't be held responsible? OH! But he was born in Barrow County and probably has `church' membership in one of the local baptist assemblies so, By God, he MUST be a Christian, afterall he takes his cap off when someone says a prayer. And he is also an American so he HAS to be Christian.....

#6 Brian Orr on 05/29/11 at 06:01 PM [Reply]

None of you bunch of negative people know what or is actually going on in our family. All you do is sit around and run your choppers like you know what is going on. The newspapers make it sound like it was intentional but it was not intentional. My brother would not intentionally hurt anyone especially his first born daughter, remember he got hit with the bullet also. And alcohol was not the reason for this accident. Shows how much yall who want to THINK you know everything you don't so I ask you KEEP your commits to yourself. Thankyou for the friends of the Orr's and remember let the first one cast the stone who has no sin.

#6.1 judgenot on 05/29/11 at 08:21 PM [Reply]

You are one to be talking Brian! You run your mouth and say your a Christian but in fact you turn people away from Christ by your actions. Christians don't kick people when they are down. Think about you running your chopper when you have no clue the whole story!

#6.2 Just me on 06/03/11 at 10:42 AM [Reply]

BRIAN ORR...UR RITE ! BUT I DO KNOW WRONG IS WRONG NO MATTER WHO U ARE!!!AND IM ALL ABOUT SUPPORTING FAMILY BUT I HAVE TO ASK...IF UR BROTHER CARED AS MUCH FOR HIS FAMILY WOULD HE HAVE MADE THE STUPID DESCISION TO GRAB A LOADED GUN AND WRESTLE OVER IT IN A CROWD OF FAMILY MEMBERS ? AND LETS NOT FORGET THIS HAPPENED ON CHRISTMAS DAY!!! WOW!!! AND AS FOR HIM GETTIN HIT BY THE BULLET...HE STILL HAS HIS HAND RITE ? AND IF ALCOHOL ISNT THE REASON THEN WHAT IS ? THAT JUST MAKES IT WORSE... JUST FURTHER PROVES HIS SELFISHNESS!!!!

#7 Jus saying on 05/29/11 at 07:02 PM [Reply]

Ok so family and friends speak he isnt a dangerous man that attacked his daughter instead he is a huge idiot that shouldn't have access to a beer a bible or a gun. .....Right?

#8 Pam Orr Williams on 05/29/11 at 10:15 PM [Reply]

First off, you freaking cowards who refuse to post your real name, you are idiots. Put your true name here like myself and my brother are! If you want your opinion heard then don't be afraid to post your name. No, you stand behind the veil of being "anonymous". Keep hiding, our true friends and our family know the truth of what happened Christmas Day, 2010. Trust me, I have seen much worse "crimes" be plead down to nothing or just swept under the rug. Whoever was posting about our former DA.....Do you not know he went to PRISON??? Leave my family alone, let the healing continue and stop judging.

#8.1 Johnny Friendly on 05/30/11 at 09:02 AM [Reply]

Pam, you, like other family members, are confused.
Apparently beverage alcohol is to blame for this condition. The former DA referred to is the interim one, the one who REPLACED replaced felon Madison, but was not then elected to the office. Thus your comment about the "former DA going to PRISON" is, well, pretty dumb. But, I guess you're problem is genetic or booze-related -- or both.

Bottom line that we silly people are a trifle miffed that a drunken man can shoot off a girl's arm and get his knuckles slapped with a little fine + a few months of meaningless "probation."

#9 jus saying on 05/30/11 at 12:50 AM [Reply]

Enough said by the families behavior on here, Careful with you posts they might start shooting again

#9.1 Just me on 06/03/11 at 10:56 AM [Reply]

AND GET AWAY WITH IT...AGAIN !!!

#10 Blair Darst on 05/30/11 at 01:05 PM [Reply]

First and foremost everyone needs to understand what it takes to go to trial. The term Reasonable doubt is a very HUGE mountain to climb over, if you have never been involved in a criminal investigation or the prosecution of one I would not be throwing stones at the District Attorney's office. The other issue is lack of physical evidence as to whom actually pulled the trigger. Anyone who knows Lt. Orr knows he is not a large person and his injuries were incompatible with the ability to pull the trigger. The paper did it's job in reporting how the DA handled the case to get the best outcome possible for everyone.

In order to prosecute a case you have to have a victim (one that is willing to come forth as a victim) and not one that just suffered injuries. Lt. Orr paid the ultimate price in this case. His "baby" lost a portion of her arm. I have known Todd for several years and first and foremost his FAMILY came first. Down to the last pitch at a softball game or working on the fields before a game. The guilt that he will have to carry will far outweigh any "prison" or "jail" term that a judge can give him. Not only that, every time he looks down he will see and remember that dreadful day his left hand and forearm won't let him forget it.

I for one hope that this will allow Todd to move on with his life. He is still young and now has a grandbaby to spoil as much as he tried to spoil his daughters. I wish Todd well and hope that his future endeavors are plentiful. As a friend I also will be there when my phone rings and he or his family needs something because Todd would do the same for his true friends.

#11 Anonymous on 05/30/11 at 03:35 PM [Reply]

Yeah his family came first to the point he easily could have killed them. Let him move on? He hasn't paid a realistic debt to my way of thinking.

#12 Barrow County For Life on 05/30/11 at 03:40 PM [Reply]

Let's get a few things straight. People like Lt. Orr are above reproach. In Barrow County we take care of our own. The police had no business getting involved in this. When they arrived they should have told the Orr family to handle it themselves. The Orr family does not need local law enforcement sticking their nose in family affairs. Certain families in Barrow County can handle things like this on their own. When are people going to learn to leave certain families (like the Orrs) alone. This includes the newspaper which continues to try and drag their name through the mud. Members of the good old boy network will not tolerate this. Law enforcement owes Lt. Orr an apology for putting him through all of this.

#12.1 Input needed on 05/30/11 at 07:33 PM [Reply]

In reading this post, it reminded me why I finished school. So I could express an opinion based on the facts known. 1st fact: Nobody, Not even Mr. Orr, (in case you didn't notice he is not a Lt. any longer), is above the law. Even in Barrow County. 2nd fact: When you are drunk and shoot your daughters arm off, the police do need to get involved. 3rd fact: Barrow County needs to move away from the "Good Old Boy Network". I do believe this is happening. Otherwise the general public would have never heard about this horrible event. 4th fact: The newspaper, nor the citizens of this county did not and has not tried to drag the Orr family name through mud. Mr. Orr accomplished that all by himself. And finally, for all those that keep say this is a good strong honorable family. Go ask Mrs. Orr why this terrible thing happened in the first place. You might learn somthing

#12.2 Just me on 06/03/11 at 10:08 AM [Reply]

I HOPE YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS :) THAT IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS COMMENT I HAVE READ !!! LET THEM HANDLE IT THEMSELVES ? REALLY ? WELL I BET POOR TIFFANY IS GLAD THAT DIDNT HAPPEN... OR ELSE SHE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE BIRTH TO THAT WONDERFUL BABY BOY... A BLESSING FROM GOD !!! HMMM ? NOW MY QUESTION IS... DID THIS "WONDERFUL LT " THINK ABOUT THE PRICE HIS DAUGHTER WOULD PAY FOR HIS STUPID DECISION ? IF HE REALLY WANTED TO KILL HIMSELF WHY DID HE MAKE THIS "ATTEMPT" IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS ENTIRE FAMILY ? WHY NOT GO OFF ALONE ? CAUSE HE KNEW HIS FAMILY WOULD TRY AND STOP HIM !!! HOW SELFISH IS THAT ?

#13 Anonymous on 05/30/11 at 08:15 PM [Reply]

You can't hold Lt. Orr (he will always be a Lt. to many of us) responsible for the following reasons:
•he was drinking and the alcohol means he was not responsible for his actions.
•the police should have left the scene immediately or not even gone considering Lt. Orr's service to this community.
•this newspaper needs to quit allowing people to try and ruin Lt. Orr's name. He is a good member of faith at our Church and that means you have no right to criticize him or judge him. Who are you to criticize this man. The family should handle this. Not the police and not the newspaper and not the district attorney.

#13.1 Alfred E. Neuman on 05/30/11 at 10:36 PM [Reply]

I appreciate fine satire. However, only intelligent people comprehend it.

#13.1.1 pmedic on 05/31/11 at 09:19 AM [Reply]

#13.1.2 Just me on 06/03/11 at 10:12 AM [Reply]

SO IF IT MAKES YOU INTELLIGENT TO AGREE WITH A DRUNKEN IDIOT THAT ALMOST KILLED HIS CHILD AND UNBORN GRANDCHILD THEN IM GLAD IM NOT INTELLIGENT !!! I THINK THAT MAKES YOU AN IDIOT AS WELL :) GOD BLESS YOU !!!

#14 Metro on 05/31/11 at 02:48 PM [Reply]

Welcome to PODUNK winder! Boss Hogg and Cleetus are happy you dropped by, sit and stay awhile!!

Yeeehaawewww!!!

SPIT!

#14.1 Local on 06/02/11 at 10:34 PM [Reply]

Metro, it appears you've had too much alcohol yourself or you're an idiot (which one?)

#15 Heck yeah! on 05/31/11 at 05:15 PM [Reply]

I'm just happy to know that if I get drunk & accidentally shoot one of my husband's body parts off, I can plead nolo and everything will be just hunkie-dorie! Woohoo!

#16 Watcher of the DA's Office.. on 05/31/11 at 06:30 PM [Reply]

So now the Todd Orr of Barrow Co EMS pleas to a lesser charge of reckless conduct instead of cruelty to child because he was drunk. So will the Barrow County Sheriff's Deputy Andy Deustch get to plea to disorderly conduct because he was drunk when his wife and he were arguing? Probably not because he isnt from Winder and doesn't now anyone from Winder. thats Justice in this city. Gotta love the DA's office and their laziness coming through more and more everyday. So ppl when are we gonna vote someone in who isnt afraid to try a case instead of plea to a crap charge when there needs to be one?

#17 Also a watcher on 05/31/11 at 07:16 PM [Reply]

We had one in there who wasn't afraid to try a case and prosecute the hard ones, but he fired the daughter of one prominent Barrow Countian (who also didn't stay long at the Sheriff's Office and the school system), indicted a Peoples Bank VP (and the campaign treasurer for one of our judges) for child abuse and turned down a "campaign contribution" and support from a very well-off and prominent local family who also wanted him to "help them out" with a friend's assault case. That family then supported another candidate very heavily with money and signs.

And yes, I supported the interim DA in the election (and he won Jackson and Banks counties, it was Barrow that put him out). Now we are reaping what we sowed in the last election from the DA's office to the Commissioner's Office.

#17.1 Qui Est? on 06/01/11 at 02:32 AM [Reply]

Who was this district attorney? Floyd Hoard?

#18 Anon on 06/01/11 at 06:37 PM [Reply]

The Orr family is spectacular. Imagine having your family business blasted everywhere for everyone you know to see. I do not personally know Todd, but I personally know each of his daughters and every day I thank God for them. Tiffany has the best attitude and I strive to be half the woman she is every single day. Let's leave the family alone and let them heal from this awful accident. We all make mistakes, some worse than others, but all the same in God's eyes. Love all of you beautiful Orrs (And Thomas'). No media coverage is needed. Tamara is in high school and her name shouldn't even be published. No one needs to know any of this. Barrow Journal, with all due respect, back off of this family. Enough hurt is already there. And that is all.

#18.1 MGJ on 06/01/11 at 07:56 PM [Reply]

Well luckly most of us DON'T CARE what you think Anon. Get a life. Get off these blogs. You are everwhere on these blogs. Do you ever work?

#18.2 Mike Buffington, publisher on 06/01/11 at 09:46 PM [Reply]

News is news. We report news no matter who it is. We don't play favorites or ignore news based on family connections.

#19 Bob on 06/01/11 at 07:20 PM [Reply]

Anon you left this subject line - "Last in/first out concept not used with teacher lottery". What happened? Now you are on this blog. Gee you can't save everybody can you?

#20 Anon on 06/01/11 at 08:17 PM [Reply]

Actually, that's the first comment I've ever written on any sort of "blog". Don't know what you're talking about. Get yourselves together, "gee!"

#21 Bob on 06/01/11 at 08:21 PM [Reply]

Anon your name has been used on five of other recent blogs in this newspaper. Better do some checking. Or change you name to something else.

#21.1 Anon Y. Mous on 06/02/11 at 02:17 AM [Reply]

Who appointed you the blog police? I know where you can pin your badge.

#21.1.1 Bob on 06/02/11 at 06:27 PM [Reply]

Now where would that me missy?

#21.1.2 Peter Rabbit on 06/02/11 at 06:40 PM [Reply]

Gee looks like you have your liberal, bleeding heart, claws out. NEOW!!

#22 World Goes Roun on 06/02/11 at 09:51 AM [Reply]

A "pass the trash" solution. Allowing him to keep his fire license means that some other fire department, some other place, some other time will hire him. Then, when another psycho booze-addled incident occurs, some other newspaper will blast the hell out of some other fire department for not properly vetting him and questioning why a person with his history was allowed to keep his license.
Like I said: "pass the trash."

#22.1 Me on 06/02/11 at 05:43 PM [Reply]

You had to be part of a "special class the days you attended school..

#23 Tiffany Thomas on 06/03/11 at 11:37 AM [Reply]

To whom it may concern:
This is Tiffany "Orr" Thomas, Tabitha Orr and Tamara Orr. Yes we are the daughters of Todd and Teresa Orr, Tiffany is the wife of Dustin Thomas. Christmas Day our lives changed. Any person who sees their father struggling with himself would try and do their best to help him. That's what we did. To everyone who thinks they know this story let us be the first to tell you, We don't regret any of our actions and would do it again tomorrow. Sometimes people fall in order to show others their strength. Look up Jeremiah 29:11. To all the unknown commentators (who choose not to type thier names like adults.) whom think they know the story. YOU DON'T! Our Family has been the topic of conversations for the last 6 months. We stand behind our dad, who is working hard to get better with his illness. He is a good man, who has helped a lot of people in this community and has been a great dad to all of us.
Please give us time to continue to heal, and find something positive to talk about on this blog. There are some good things going on in this world. None of us live in glass houses, I'm sure each of you carry around your own burdens in your home. So please remember that! While people continue to blast our family over and over again.

-Tiffany, Tabitha, Tamara

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Orr pleads nolo to misdemeanor charges

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