Crime & Safety

Opening Statements in Kelly Marlow Trial Start On Wednesday

The Cherokee school board member and two associates face false statement charges after they accused Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo of trying to run them over last summer.

After two days of combing through potential candidates, a jury has finally been chosen for the trial of a Cherokee County School Board member and two associates who are accused of lying to authorities when they said Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo tried to run them over last summer.

Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit District Attorney Shannon Wallace said opening statements will start on the morning of Wednesday, April 23 in the case against District 1 member Kelly Marlow, her partner Robert Trim and resident Barbara Knowles. Superior Court Judge Ellen McElyea is presiding over the case.

The trio in June accused Petruzielo of trying to run them over in his vehicle as they crossed East Main Street in downtown Canton after the June 13 school board meeting. 

After investigating the allegations, the Canton Police Department later issued arrest warrants for the trio's arrest. 

A Cherokee County grand jury later indicted Marlow on four counts of making false statements in relation to the allegations against the superintendent.

Trim was indicted on three counts of making false statements while Knowles was indicted on one count of filing a false report and four counts of making false statements. 

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Knowles, who is the secretary of the Cherokee County Republican Party, made the original call to Cherokee County E-911 to report the allegations. 

A panel appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal in November ruled Marlow could remain in office while the case moved forward, noting the "indictment does not relate to or adversely affect Marlow’s ability to perform her official duties."

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