Drug suspect Brandon Paquette has taken his polygraph examination regarding steroid use by Richmond County deputies, and the results led Sheriff Richard Roundtree to forward the case to the GBI.
In a Tuesday press release, Sheriff Roundtree did not say whether Paquette passed the test or not. But the sheriff’s office had said they planned to set him up on the lie detector test before addressing the list of names he provided of deputies he claims used steroids.
“We realize that a lot of attention has been given to this investigation via social media sites,” Sheriff Roundtree said. “Social media is a wonderful tool for sharing information, however any information regarding this particular investigation that is not reported by this agency or the GBI, should be considered opinions or speculations.”
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Steroids suspect Brandon Paquette has handed over a list of Richmond County deputies he claims have used steroids, and the sheriff’s office is preparing to give him a lie detector test, authorities said.
Investigators re-interviewed Paquette before a bond hearing Friday and he ” implicated multiple members of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, past and present, in the use of illegal steroids that dated back to 2004,” sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Shane McDaniel Sr. said in a press release.
In an effort to corroborate and validate Paquette’s statement, investigators have asked the GBI to aid in administering a polygraph examination.
“The use of polygraphs in cases where little corroborating evidence exists is commonplace. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was asked to assist as an outside, independent agency, and arrangements are being made to have the test administered,” Sgt. McDaniel said. “At the conclusion of the exam and based on its findings, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office will then decide in which direction to proceed.”
Sgt. McDaniel emphasized that Paquette’s claims are “unsubstantiated accusations of misconduct” against present and past deputies, and he is the only person making the claims. “Until evidence is revealed to substantiate said claims, we will not subject any deputy to undue scrutiny,” Sgt. McDaneil said.
Paquette, 32, was charged Wednesday with possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Richmond County executed a search warrant Wednesday and stopped Brandon Paquette at his home on Pennsylvania Avenue. They found a significant number of vials of steroids in the suspect’s Ford pick-up truck and at his home.
According to warrants, Brandon Paquette was caught with 18 vials of Testosterone Enanthate, Trenbolone Enanthate, 6 vials of Testosterone Cypionate, 11 vials of Cypionate, Enanthate, Propionate, and 11 vials of Trenbolone Enanthate. Possession of those substances are in violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act.
In addition, he was found with a handgun and bolt-action rifle while in possession of the illegal substances, the warrant says.