Candidate for sheriff apologizes for statements about Muscogee County sheriff’s son

The Republican candidate for Muscogee County Sheriff has issued an apology for statements made regarding Greg Countryman Jr., the son of current Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman Sr.

Sheriff candidate Mark Lajoye issued an apology via his campaign’s Facebook page.

“I recently published false and defamatory statements regarding Greg Countryman, Jr. I falsely accused Mr. Countryman, of speeding, illegally using public vehicles, violating Georgia law, and incompetence,” Lajoye’s statement read. “None of these statements were true, and I recklessly published them without making sure.”

The statement continued, “I was wrong and should not have said these things. I deeply apologize for any pain or embarrassment I have caused Mr. Countryman and his family.”

This is Lajoye’s fifth time running for sheriff . Lajoye lost to Countryman Sr. in 2020 , Donna Tompkins in 2016, to John Darr in 2012 and again to Darr in 2008 as a write-in candidate.

Countryman Sr. sent the following statement to the Ledger-Enquirer:

“As a proud father I’ve always tried to teach my three sons to be honest, fair, and to look for the best in people. Recently my son Greg, Jr. experienced the worst from my opponent. As my opponent has now openly admitted, he attacked my son’s character by posting false, malicious, and defamatory statements about my son (and about me) on his social media page for all to see. As he has now had to admit, none of these statements were true, and his actions were reckless and showed a true lack of care and common decency.”

The statement continued:

“As Sheriff, as a candidate, and as a man, I will never make unprovoked attacks on my opponent’s family. They deserve better just as my family deserves better. The citizens we serve definitely deserve better.

“In my 34 years of law enforcement, including 20 years of successfully leading two law enforcement agencies, I have always known and have striven to always get the facts first, and to not jump to conclusions,” he continued. “The people that the Sheriff serves must always have confidence that he and those he leads are deserving of their faith and trust, free from bias and rancor.”