JONES COUNTY, Ga. — A former Bibb County Sheriff’s Office sergeant has been sentenced to 60 years after pleading guilty to three counts of incest in a case that brought an abrupt end to his law-enforcement career.
Michael Scott Dorough, 46, entered the guilty pleas in Jones County Superior Court in September. A judge imposed a 60-year sentence, with Dorough ordered to serve the first 30 years in prison, according to the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.
The sentence came approximately six months after Dorough and his wife, Ashley Dorough, were arrested following an investigation by the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.
Jones County investigators announced the arrests in March 2026. Michael Dorough, who was still working as a sergeant with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at the time, was initially charged with incest, first-degree cruelty to children and influencing witnesses. Authorities said the investigation was conducted with assistance from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
Ashley Dorough, then 40, was also arrested during the investigation and charged with first-degree cruelty to children and influencing witnesses. Both were initially held without bond, according to reports published shortly after their arrests.
Authorities did not publicly release extensive details about the circumstances surrounding the allegations when the couple was arrested.
Dorough’s employment with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office ended immediately after his arrest.
Bibb County Sheriff David Davis described the allegations against his then-sergeant as “extremely serious and deeply concerning” and announced that Dorough had been terminated. Davis also said the agency would cooperate with the investigation and emphasized that no employee was above the law.
The case attracted additional attention because Dorough had previously been identified in media coverage as a former “Deputy of the Year,” creating a stark contrast between his earlier recognition in law enforcement and the criminal case that ultimately ended his career. Law&Crime highlighted that history while reporting on his arrest in March.
Months later, Dorough returned to court and pleaded guilty to three incest counts. The resulting sentence calls for 30 years of incarceration as part of the overall 60-year sentence.
Following the sentencing, the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office said prosecutors hoped the outcome would bring justice and closure to the victims and family members affected by Dorough’s crimes. Prosecutors also credited the Jones County Sheriff’s Office for its investigation and specifically recognized Investigator Crystal Murphy for her work on the case.
Ashley Dorough was charged separately in connection with the investigation. The charges filed against her should not be confused with Michael Dorough’s guilty plea and conviction; the reporting confirming his September sentence does not establish that she was convicted of the same offenses.
For Michael Dorough, the case represents a dramatic fall from a career in which he once received recognition for his work as a law-enforcement officer. By March, he had gone from serving as a sheriff’s sergeant to being arrested by fellow law-enforcement officers. Six months later, he stood in Jones County Superior Court and admitted guilt to three felony incest charges.
He will now serve the first 30 years of his 60-year sentence in prison.
