Henry Daily Herald

McDONOUGH — A McDonough City Councilman arrested for shooting his son last October pleaded guilty in Henry County Superior Court Thursday and was sentenced to a decade of probation.

Councilman Rufus Frank Amis told Henry County Superior Court Judge Brian Amero he was guilty aggravated assault on his son, Orlando Amis, and received 10 years probation and $1,000 fine under the First Offender Treatment.

Attorney Christopher Chapman represented Amis, 64, who complied with general and special conditions imposed by the court as part of his sentencing.

The first offender act provides that, “upon violation of the terms of probation, upon conviction for another crime during the period of probation, or upon the court’s determination that the defendant is or was not eligble for sentencing under the First Offender Act, the court may enter adjudication of guilt and proceed to sentence the defendant to the maxium sentence as provided by law.”

The maximun possible sentence Amis could have reiceved was 20 years in the state prison system.

Amis declined comment following the sen

The city councilman was arrested by McDonough police and charged following the shooting of his adult son, Oct. 5, 2011, at the Amis home, located at 208 Phillips Drive.

The councilman was indicted by a grand jury in February.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) investigated the shooting, at the request of McDonough Police Chief Preston Dorsey.

The warrant that resulted in the councilman’s arrest, accused Amis firing multiple shots from a 9-mm handgun and a 12-gauge shotgun, “striking the victim in the leg and lower to middle torso, with the intent to then and there ... murder the said victim.”

Police officers were near Amis’ house when they heard gunshots, according to GBI Director of Public Affairs John Bankhead.

“There was a heated verbal argument between Mr. Amis and one of his adult sons,” Bankhead said at the time. Orlando Amis, 41, was living with the councilman at the time of the shooting, according to Bankhead.

Amis was sworn in for the first time on the City Council in January 2010. He will be up for reelection in 2013, said McDonough spokesperson Casey Case.