A judge has approved reimbursement for Henry County Deputy Carlos Lopez’s legal expenses related to his fight against being placed on the Brady-Giglio list.
Lopez appeared before the Henry County Board of Supervisors in November of 2025 requesting reimbursement for the remaining $21,105 in legal fees he paid while challenging former County Attorney Darin Stater’s decision to place his name on the list, which identifies officers considered unreliable witnesses by prosecutors.
A district judge later ruled the placement was improper and ordered Lopez’s name removed from the list.
Lopez told supervisors the situation caused significant professional and personal hardship, including the loss of his position as a School Resource Officer with the New London Community School District and a shift to overnight duties with the sheriff’s office. He presented documentation showing total legal expenses of $28,405, with about $7,200 covered through donations from supporters.
Supervisors previously expressed support for reimbursing Lopez, with now Chairman Chad White saying the judge’s ruling indicated the process may have been flawed and that reimbursement appeared to be the right thing to do.
Now that the reimbursement has been approved by the judge, White says the next step is determining where the money will come from within the county budget.
County Attorney Becky Wilson will work with Henry County Auditor Robin Detrick to identify the appropriate funding source.
The reimbursement amount is expected to be $21,105.