A Chatham County Superior Court jury on Wednesday found former Savannah-Chatham police detective Trina Mayes guilty of seven counts of making false statements.
Mayes was on trial for making false statements to investigators and former interim police Chief Julie Tolbert between December 2013 and February of this year. The statements were regarding a past romantic relationship with convicted felon William “Rocky” Sellers.
“We support our police. There are a lot of good officers,” said District Attorney Meg Heap in a statement. “The bad officers give the good ones a bad name. We are working with Chief (Joseph) Lumpkin to restore the community’s confidence in the police force.”
During the trial, Sellers testified he and Mayes were dating in 2006 while she was working at the Garden City police department, said Kristin Fulford, Chatham County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman.
During the course of their relationship, Sellers said, Mayes took a job at the metro police department. He testified that Mayes was in the car with him one night when he fled from police officers, but she never asked him to pull over, Fulford said.
Sellers said Mayes not only visited him in jail, but also posted his bond.
The defense did not present any witnesses.
Superior Court Judge John E. Morse Jr. will hold sentencing this morning. Mayes faces a potential total of 35 years.