From staff reports

Spalding County Sheriff Dee Stewart on Friday night ordered the SCSO Criminal Investigative Division to conduct a business inspection of all businesses that have a license to sell or serve alcohol.

This check was performed because of the approaching holiday season and the number of alcohol-related accidents and incidents involving those under the age of 21, Stewart said.

Stewart said these inspections occur quarterly in Spalding County.

Friday’s inspection resulted in the arrest of eight individuals from eight businesses in the county.

Some of the alleged violators are second- and third-time offenders.

According to Stewart, the alleged violators will have to appear in the State Court of Spalding County to answer to the criminal charge. The violators could face up to 12 months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.

The business owners who control the license also will have to answer to the Georgia Department of Revenue, which will hear the cases and place fines and probation on each of the business licenses. Those hearings are administrative and will be conducted before a judge.

“They do not wait for the criminal case to be heard first,” Stewart said.

In addition to appearing before the Department of Revenue, the business owners will also have to appear before the Spalding County Board of Commissioners to answer the charges, which is also an administrative procedure.

The county also has penalties which are in line with those of the state.

Arrested Friday were Marian L. Anderson, 62, of Griffin, at Marathon Station, on Wilson Road; Farhan Lakhani, 24, of Clarkston, at Petro, on Hill Street; Hao Tran, 23, of Jonesboro, at Side Door Liquor, on Georgia Highway 92; Jawaid M. Siddiqua, 58, of Griffin, at Texaco, on Highway 92; Tammy A. Bethune, 38, of Griffin, at Sunoco; Nichole Rae Anne Woolley, 26, of Griffin, at Fatzo’s on North Expressway; Badiuz Zaman, 50, of Griffin, at Lakeview Texaco, on North Expressway; and Keith Jackson Goen, 21, of Griffin, at Tony’s BP, on North Expressway.

All of the alleged violators have been released on bond from the Spalding County Jail.