SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — Ivy Gibbins, chair of the Effingham County Democratic Committee, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing in connection with a profane message written in chalk on pavement at a county government facility.

Gibbins was taken into custody by Effingham County Sheriff's deputies and booked into the Effingham County Jail. She was released after posting a $1,300 bond, she said.

The arrest came Oct. 1 and stems from an Aug. 29 incident following a public forum on OpenAI's proposed Project Camellia data center at the Effingham County Administrative Complex.

Gibbins acknowledged to the Herald that she wrote the message in chalk behind the county building. She said it was erased the same day and that she did not believe she had committed a crime.

The message read: “Burdette is a p**** b****.”

Gibbins said she intended for county commissioners to see the message as they left the building. She also said she had spoken with several attorneys who told her the conduct was not criminal and was protected political speech.

The Effingham County Sheriff's Office previously confirmed it was investigating the incident before the matter was referred to the Springfield Police Department.

Burdette said he contacted the Sheriff's Office after obtaining surveillance video through an open-records request. Gibbins acknowledged the surveillance camera captured her writing the message.

The charge

Gibbins said the criminal-trespass charge is based on an allegation that the chalk caused damage to county property. She disputes that any damage occurred.

Georgia law classifies criminal trespass as a misdemeanor. The offense can include intentionally damaging another person's property without consent when the damage is $500 or less.

A misdemeanor conviction generally can result in a fine of up to $1,000, confinement for up to 12 months, or both, unless a different punishment is specified by law.

Those are statutory maximums, not a prediction of the sentence Gibbins would receive if convicted.

Gibbins continues to maintain that she did not commit a crime.

Gibbins said she was at home when deputies arrived Oct. 1 and disputed any suggestion that she voluntarily turned herself in.

“They put a warrant out for my arrest, and then they came to my house and they picked me up,” Gibbins said.

She said she remained in the Effingham County Jail for more than 14 hours before being released the following morning.

According to Gibbins, her warrant did not list a court date. She said her attorney was reviewing the case and planned to discuss the next steps with her.

The warrant identifies Springfield Municipal Court as the court handling the case, Gibbins said.

Political dispute

The incident is the latest dispute between Gibbins and Effingham County Commissioner Roger Burdette, whose disagreements date to at least 2023 and have included interactions at public meetings.

Gibbins said she has hired a Savannah attorney. She also said the Democratic Party of Georgia has not contacted her about the arrest.