Cobb Reporter

Supporters of prominent Judge Glenda Hatchett are demanding Gov. Brian Kemp take action against Bleckley County Sheriff, Kristopher Coody, who is charged with sexually assaulting the judge at an Atlanta hotel earlier this year.

Kemp issued a written statement addressing the group's demands, according to a Fox 5 Atlanta report.

"Because the current charge is a misdemeanor and the incident happened at an off-duty location, the accusation has not yet risen to the level required by state law to take action," Kemp wrote. "We will, however, most certainly continue to follow this situation closely and review any new information that comes to our attention."

According to Fox 5 Atlanta, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Ambassador Andrew Young are among the group of legal, civil rights and religious leaders demanding Kemp suspend Coody amid allegations he groped Hatchett during an event at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly hotel in January.

The two sides are currently going through plea negotiations with the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office, where attorneys for Hatchett have argued Coody’s alleged actions are made even worse by him being a part of law enforcement sworn to serve and protect, the report stated.

Coody faces charges of sexual battery that center around the allegation he groped Hatchett, a former celebrity judge, Fox 5 reported.