Augusta to settle federal lawsuit with Allen Crispin for $150,000

The Augusta Commission voted 11-0 on Tuesday to settle a federal lawsuit for $150,000 with Allen Crispin Fuentes, a former sheriff’s investigator who was arrested after reporting suspected child abuse at a downtown festival.

A Dispute at the Augusta Common

The financial payout closes a chapter on an arrest that began on March 25, 2023, during the Latin Spring Fest at the Augusta Common. Crispin, who goes by Allen Crispin and was working as an investigator with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office at the time, attended the event with his family.

According to trial testimony, Crispin saw an adult slap an infant and alerted Richmond County Sgt. Ty Hester, who was working security. When Hester failed to act, Crispin cursed at him.

Jury Finds Crispin Not Guilty of Disorderly Conduct

Richmond County authorities initially maintained that Crispin approached Hester aggressively, used profanity, and repeatedly refused instructions to leave. Hester testified at trial that he warned Crispin 10 or 15 times.

Crispin disputed that account entirely, testifying that he was already walking away with his family when Hester placed him under arrest. At no point did he ask me to leave, Crispin testified.

The resulting criminal charge led to a July 25, 2024 trial, where a six-person jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding Crispin not guilty of disorderly conduct. I’m very, very thankful for that, Crispin said after the verdict.

Hester Used Wrong Memory Card for Body Camera

The Augusta Press filed a separate lawsuit against former Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree in April 2023 after the sheriff’s office refused to release body camera footage under the pretext of a pending investigation.

During Crispin’s trial, Hester testified that he had activated his camera, but it recorded nothing because he had inserted the wrong-sized memory card. Investigator Omar Aljabari testified that he had instructed Hester to secure the correct card from the department safe.

Hester also obtained a search warrant targeting the entire contents of Crispin’s wife’s cell phone. Crispin’s attorney secured an emergency injunction that prevented law enforcement from accessing the device’s complete contents. While video from the phone was ultimately shown at trial, it did not begin until after the arrest took place.

Judge Allows Federal Claims Against Hester and McNeil

Represented by attorney Tanya Jeffords—who also defended him against the original criminal charge—Crispin filed a federal lawsuit on March 22, 2025. The complaint named Hester, Investigator Walter McNeil, Roundtree, and Sheriff Eugene Brantley as defendants, alleging unlawful search and seizure, excessive force, retaliation, and malicious prosecution, alongside the challenge to the cell phone search.

In a February 25, 2026 ruling, U.S. District Judge J. Randal Hall allowed several claims against Hester and McNeil to move forward, alongside a request for court-ordered changes against Brantley in his official capacity. Judge Hall dismissed the claims against Roundtree and the bids to hold Brantley personally liable. The litigation subsequently moved to mediation before Bankruptcy Judge Susan D. Barrett, resulting in Tuesday’s unanimous commission vote to settle the matter.

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