Ex-Cop Faces Retrial for Assault Charges

Richard Gooddine, a former East Point police sergeant, is scheduled to return to a Fulton County courtroom on Monday, August 23, 2026, for a retrial. The retrial focuses on 10 charges that a jury could not resolve during his initial trial. In 2022, Gooddine was acquitted of seven charges, including child molestation and violating his oath of office.

The initial trial involved 17 charges, with prosecutors alleging Gooddine inappropriately touched three women and two teenage girls while on duty. He is accused of assaulting them during searches or by building their trust. His defense argued that the accusers had ulterior motives and fabricated the claims, with Gooddine maintaining his innocence throughout.

In March 2022, the jury deliberated for 10 hours, ultimately declaring a hung jury on the remaining counts. Jurors indicated that one member's belief in Gooddine's innocence and refusal to deliberate contributed to the deadlock. The retrial will begin at 9 a.m.