Effingham Co. Commissioner indicted on sexual battery charges appears in court

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - The Effingham County Commissioner that’s been indicted for sexual battery of a child was in court Tuesday.

Reginald Loper was in court for the first time since the indictment. He was originally scheduled to be arraigned two weeks ago but it was moved. He pled not guilty.

Loper has been indicted on one charge of sexual battery and one charge of sexual battery of a child.

He’s accused of inappropriately touching two underage girls, once between August 2017 and August 2020 and the other between September 2014 and September 2015.

He was arrested in May 2023 but was just indicted in March 2024.

Judge F. Gates Peed oversaw the proceedings, after three other judges recused themselves from the case.

Loper has been suspended from the Effingham County Commission, awaiting a ruling from a review commission.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is tasked with putting together a three-person review commission that will decide whether Loper keeps his spot at the District 4 Commissioner or if he should be removed from that position altogether.

Loper won’t be paid for the position in the meantime, if he is acquitted and retains his position on the Commission, at that point he would be owed backpay.

If he is removed from the Commission, Governor Kemp would appoint his replacement.

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