Fired Cherokee deputy’s fake Facebook page leads to dropped charges

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. - Prosecutors are abandoning misdemeanor obstruction charges against a Cherokee County woman after an investigation linked a fired sheriff's corporal to a months-long online harassment campaign targeting her family.

Harassing Facebook page sparks investigation

What we know:

Cherokee County Solicitor General Todd Hayes addressed the state's decision to drop the charges during a briefing at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Prosecutors filed a motion for entry of nolle prosequi in the obstruction case against Natasha Lopez, signaling they are no longer willing to pursue the charges.

The State Court of Cherokee County later granted the request.

The decision stems from the actions of former Cherokee County Sheriff's Cpl. Charles Mills, who served as the state's principal witness in the prosecution.

Following a Sept. 18 motions hearing, Mills told an investigator with the prosecutor's office that he created and ran a Facebook page called "Not So Noble" that focused on Lopez while her criminal case was active.

The state disclosed that information to the defense as Brady material on Sept. 21, and Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds subsequently fired Mills shortly thereafter.

"The state's case depended significantly upon that testimony, and I have concluded that the circumstances surrounding the Not So Noble Facebook page create a substantial risk that a jury would be unable to evaluate Mills' testimonies without that conduct affecting its assessment of his actions," Hayes said.

Cherokee County deputy enters home

The backstory:

The dispute began in August 2025 when former Cherokee County Sheriff's Cpl. Charles Mills went to Lopez's home looking for her son regarding a suspected traffic violation.

Video from the encounter shows Lopez demanding to see a warrant before Mills arrested her on misdemeanor obstruction counts.

ORIGINAL STORY: Former Cherokee County deputy accused of online harassment campaign

After Lopez shared details of the encounter online, a fake Facebook page named "Not So Noble" began harassing her and her family, according to Lopez.

She said the campaign lasted for months and targeted both her and her children using lingerie photos, partial nudity and fake OnlyFans profiles generated by artificial intelligence.

Lopez provided FOX 5 with an email from the Cherokee County Solicitor-General's Office that identified Mills as the owner of the "Not So Noble" Facebook page.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office later fired Mills after officials said they found evidence he had violated the agency's code of conduct.

*Video below from previous coverage

Cherokee County charges dismissed

Dig deeper:

Prior to the Facebook page revelation, the state's legal case had survived multiple challenges from Lopez's defense team, according to Hayes.

Lopez challenged her son's arrest, the entry into her home, the validity of the search warrant and alleged violations of the sheriff's body-worn camera policy.

In an Oct. 21 order, the state court rejected those challenges, ruling that probable cause existed to arrest Lopez's son, exigent circumstances justified securing Lopez's home and the search warrant was valid.

The court also ruled that while deputies on the scene violated the sheriff's office body-worn camera policy, that violation did not warrant dismissing the case.

"Our review of the evidence in the case was that we were on track to proceed to trial," the prosecutor said. "Again, the principal challenges of the defendant levied against the state's case were denied in two separate orders by the state court and until Cpl. Mills' decisions came to light, we had no reason not to proceed."

What we don't know:

Prosecutors have not said whether Sheriff Frank Reynolds will implement new departmental policies regarding deputy social media use or the use of Flock traffic cameras for traffic incidents.

"Policy issues are the sheriff's determination, and I'm happy to leave that to him in terms of the way he establishes policy for his office," Hayes said, noting that policy changes are entirely within the sheriff's purview.

Additionally, the status of the separate criminal case against Lopez's son remains unconfirmed by Cherokee County officials, though Hayes noted the case was referred to the Bartow County District Attorney's Office and is believed to remain open.

Hayes also noted that the dismissal does not reflect a finding that the sheriff's office acted unlawfully during the Aug. 30, 2025, incident, nor does it penalize Lopez's own lawful social media commentary.

"The responsibility of a prosecutor is to seek justice, not simply to obtain convictions," the prosecutor said. "That responsibility includes recognizing when circumstances no longer support taking a case to trial."

Witness credibility issues

What they're saying:

While prosecutors pointed to witness credibility issues in dropping the case, Natasha Lopez said the dismissal brings relief after a more than yearlong legal fight that took a heavy toll on her family.

"I’m glad the case has been dismissed. I do not think that justice has been served yet," Lopez said. "It has been very exhausting. It’s been a lot of work, a lot of time, a lot of money. It has affected my children."

Lopez, who was arrested while on the phone with 911 during the August 2025 encounter, said she and her attorney, Chris McCormick, are now turning their focus toward holding county officials accountable.

"They saw the writing on the wall. Now it’s our turn. We will be filing a civil rights litigation lawsuit," McCormick said.

Lopez and McCormick said multiple agencies and individuals will be named as defendants in the upcoming lawsuit, though they have not yet confirmed who will be included.

"We intend to take it as far as we need to in order to ensure that there’s some sort of accountability in Cherokee County," Lopez said.

What's next:

Lopez and her attorney, Chris McCormick, announced they plan to take legal action against the county.

"They saw the writing on the wall. Not it’s our turn. we will be filing a civil rights litigation lawsuit," McCormick said.

"We intend to take it as far as we need to in order to ensure that there’s some sort of accountability in Cherokee County," Lopez said.

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