Bibb County Judge Howard Simms Stops at License Check, Deputy Follows Him Home

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an internal review into how a deputy handled a situation involving Judge Howard Simms on Saturday night.

According to Chief Deputy David Davis, the sherrif’s office got word that Simms had come through a license check on Lamar Road in west Bibb County sometime after dark on Saturday evening.

During the stop, the judge was tested for alcohol.  Davis did not reveal the results of the test.

Davis says at some point after the license check, a Bibb County deputy followed Simms home without charging him.

The sherrif’s office is looking deeper into the case to see what exactly happened and to determine who all was involved and what exactly took place.

Simms has entered into an inpatient alcohol addiction treatment program.  He released the following statement today:

HOWARD Z. SIMMS, SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE MACON JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, CANCELED COURT TODAY IN ORDER TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO ENTER INPATIENT TREATMENT FOR ALCOHOL ADDICTION.  SIMMS AND HIS FAMILY MADE THIS DECISION FOLLOWING A TRAFFIC STOP ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND.  SIMMS CAME UPON A ROADBLOCK AND WAS TESTED FOR THE PRESENCE OF ALCOHOL.  HE WAS NOT CHARGED WITH ANY OFFENSES AND RETURNED HOME UNDER HIS OWN POWER.

“FIRST, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE HURT AND EMBARRASSMENT I HAVE CAUSED MY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS.  DRINKING AND DRIVING IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE CONDUCT FOR ANYONE, MUCH LESS A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE.  ALCOHOL ADDICTION IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE TRIED TO DEAL WITH ON MY OWN BUT I HAVE COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT I NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP.  I REALLY LOVE SERVING AS A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE AND FEEL LIKE I HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB ON THE BENCH.  I WANT TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT MY PROBLEMS DEAL WITH CONDUCT OFF THE BENCH AND THAT IT IS NOT AND NEVER HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WHEN I WAS ON THE BENCH.  I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING HEALTHY AND RETURNING TO DOING WHAT I LOVE BEST, WHICH IS BEING A JUDGE. ”

The statement says Simms has also reported this information to the Judicial Qualifications Commission for its review.

Davis says the sheriff’s office’s investigation into the incident will likely last through the end of this week and possibly into early next week.

Chief Judge Phillip Brown’s office tells 41NBC Judge Tilman Self and Judge Brown will be handling Simms’s trials.

Follow Tucker Sargent on Facebook: