Jason Alderman, the Oconee Solicitor, Assaults Man with a Punch to the Face While Drunk—All Caught on Film!

CHATOOGA RIVER LODGE, Oconee County (January 2, 2025) — Christmas Eve took a violent turn at the Chattooga River Lodge, according to multiple eyewitness accounts and security footage that shows the Oconee County Solicitor, Jason Alderman, initiating a disturbing series of assaults. During a visit to the lodge earlier this week, I personally reviewed the tapes and spoke with several onlookers. What I discovered raises significant concerns about Alderman’s criminal misconduct and special treatment by the Oconee County Sheriff’s Department.

The security recordings are surprisingly clear. They show an initial confrontation between Alderman and another patron at the bar. Alderman approaches a man and begins placing his hands on him, appearing to rub his shoulder against the mans will. The man visibly asks Alderman to stop, but Alderman persists. Rather than fighting back, the patron simply defends himself by controlling Alderman’s arms and creating distance. He also makes a deliberate effort to protect a nearby woman who is bravely trying to intervene. During the scuffle, the patron clearly has an opportunity to strike Alderman but refrains, opting instead to remain measured. One observer noted that Alderman appeared to have a “demonic look” in his eyes and was yelling he would “tear the heart out” of the innocent man he attacked. Only after Alderman initiates a second attack does the patron deliver an open-palm strike, which seems to be the source of the black eye seen in Alderman’s subsequent mugshot.

After Alderman is thrown out of the Chattooga River Lodge, tensions escalate in the parking lot. Video clearly shows Alderman is extremely drunk, belligerent, and aggressive, lurching toward patrons despite repeated efforts by the same woman to keep him at bay. Alderman’s actions become increasingly reckless, demonstrating a clear disregard for everyone’s safety—including the woman attempting to deescalate the situation. One particularly alarming moment captured on camera shows Alderman abruptly punching a man in the face who has his hands at his sides.

In the immediate aftermath, employees say local law enforcement displayed an unusual reluctance to detain Alderman. One officer reportedly arrived within minutes of the 911 call and arranged for a friend to come pick Alderman up instead of placing him in custody. This decision was made despite Alderman being found in the driver’s seat of his car with an open container. One officer purportedly turned off his body camera to tell an employee that Alderman was his “boss” and there was nothing he could do. The only reason Alderman was not let go without charges, sources say, is because citizens insisted there be some level of accountability. Otherwise, he would have walked free.

Shaken by what had transpired, a staff member downloaded the security footage to show the officers. Yet, even after reviewing the videos, an on-site police supervisor maintained there was little that could be done, insisting Alderman now had a ride home. Patrons were bewildered by this response, describing Alderman’s demeanor as “outright evil” and fearing that letting him go would endanger the public.

Several other troubling details have emerged regarding Alderman’s behavior. He reportedly flaunted a badge inside the lodge earlier in the evening, but refused to explain whether it was official or where it came from. In prior weeks, Alderman had been frequenting the Chattooga River Lodge, leaving conspicuously large tips—sometimes as high as $95 on a $5 drink—and avoiding questions about his line of work.

According to accounts, the fight at the bar occurred around 10:45 p.m., with the police arriving within minutes. However, Alderman was not taken into custody until around 1:00 a.m. as the Sheriff’s office struggled to find a way to let Alderman go. Perhaps they were just waiting for everyone to leave, as the bar closed after the fight. When officers finally did arrest him, reports say he resisted arrest both verbally and physically, adding even more tension to an already volatile situation.

It is clear that political connections or departmental favoritism influenced law enforcement’s response and actions. Charges could have included public intoxication, DUI, assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. As many have guessed, he did not receive these charges. Only through the consistent pressure and demands of patrons and staff was Alderman eventually arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

So far, official statements regarding Alderman’s arrest remain scarce. I visited the Solicitor’s courthouse office, where a prosecuting attorney who identified himself as Hunter refused to comment. Here at OcnoneeNews.org, we are hoping for a thorough and transparent investigation, as well as the release of all available surveillance and body-camera footage.

This incident highlights how the Oconee County system persecutes the poor and vulnerable while excusing the aberrant behavior of its corrupt officials. In a separate instance, Alderman reportedly fired a handgun inside his home without facing charges. Neighbors allegedly called the police after hearing gunshots. The official report says no one else was in the house, though rumors suggest his wife was present and that Alderman was assaulting her. We may never know the truth because Oconee County is riddled with corruption.

Additionally, Alderman has been accused—by me and others—of covering up law enforcement crimes in the past. An interview with Chief Bowling of the Seneca Police is scheduled for January 8 at 2 p.m. to investigate a fraudulent investigation by Officer Mike Teramano. It is apparent that Alderman reviewed police reports clearly indicating fraud by the Seneca Police, yet chose to allow the continued persecution of Mrs. Pierce instead of holding these corrupt officers and the thieves at Clements Electrical accountable.

As the Solicitor, Alderman is responsible for charging citizens with crimes in court. I have personally watched him argue in the 10th Circuit Court for harsher sentences against various defendants. Alderman fully supports Oconee County’s questionable practice of detaining the accused for an exorbitant length of time, then offering a plea deal only after they have been “broken” by prolonged incarceration. The tactic is straightforward: hold vulnerable individuals who cannot afford bail, force them to wait months in jail, then finally present a plea deal that would see them released on or near the day of the hearing. If the defendant refuses the deal, they are returned to jail for another extended period while awaiting trial. This dirty trick boosts Alderman’s conviction rate to one of the best in the nation.

If Alderman were the prosecutor and you or I were the perpetrator, he would push for us never to see the light of day. That is unless you have friends inside this corrupt system. My guess is that the county will try to sweep this incident under the rug and restore Alderman to his position of power as soon as possible. I am hopeful that the people of Oconee with come together to demand justice for all.

Additional Note: It appears that a Judge may have come into court on Christmas Day to release Alderman on a $0 bond. Must be nice.

Jason Boyle is an independent journalist and local resident. For further information or to share additional details, please contact info@oconeenews.org.