Stephens County Commissioners Deny Sheriff's Sale Refund Request, Couple Claims they Were Misinformed

Stephens County Commissioners voted to deny a request to reimburse a local couple their money from a sheriff's sale at their regular meeting on Nov. 26 at the Stephens County Courthouse.

Local attorney Bill Thompson represented Chris and Karen Eaton in reference to land that was purchased in a sheriff's sale.

Thompson told Commissioners that there was no fence listed on the plat and the description of the land was incorrect. Also, Thompson said the 10-acre tract had no public road access.

"These people are young. They don't have a lot of money and they were done wrong," Thompson said. "They were screwed and they need their money back."

"We were told there was county road frontage but we did not know that it was landlocked," Karen Eaton said.

"These people are not at fault. The elected officials are the ones at fault," Thompson said. "I'm asking for justice."

However, Precinct No. 2 Commissioner Joe High said that's a risk that can be taken when land is bought at a sheriff's sale and that a precedent would not be set on refunding money.

"If we reimburse the Eatons, who's to say that someone else won't come back to us with buyer's remorse?" High said. "That's just something that can happen during a sheriff's sale. I'm going to say I'm voting against it."

With his statement, High made the motion, which was seconded by Precinct No. 3 Commissioner D.C. "Button" Sikes. The motion passed unanimously.