RHEA COUNTY – A Chickamauga, Georgia, man has been charged with forgery, following an investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

At the request of 12th Judicial District Attorney General Courtney Lynch, on September 9^th, TBI special agents began investigating allegations that the signature of a 12^th judicial district chancellor had been forged. During the course of the investigation, agents developed information that identified Alan Norton, an attorney based in Hamilton County, as the individual responsible for forging the Chancellor’s signature on court documents.

On December 2^nd, the Rhea County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Alan Christopher Norton (DOB 10/13/1979) with one count each of Forgery and Criminal Simulation.  On December 3^rd Norton turned himself in at the Rhea County Jail and was booked on a bond of $15,000.

The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.