Criminal charge against Muscogee County School District principal is dismissed
A criminal charge against a Muscogee County School District principal has been dismissed.
MCSD announced this news Thursday along with the reinstatement of Hardaway High School principal Maurdrice McNeill, who was placed on administrative after his Sept. 17 arrest on a criminal trespass charge.
“Following this resolution, Mr. McNeill will resume his role as Principal of Hardaway High School, effective immediately,” MCSD’s news release says.
“We are very pleased that the charges against Principal McNeill have been dismissed,” MCSD superintendent David Lewis said in the news release. “Principal McNeill is a dedicated leader who has consistently demonstrated his commitment to the success and well-being of his students and staff. We are grateful for his continued leadership and proud to have him as part of our Muscogee County School District team.”
McNeill’s lawyer, Jennifer Dunlap, told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email Thursday, “He has been fully cleared after the first possible hearing of the case by court officials.”
Dunlap added, “Mr. McNeill asked that I publicly share how difficult this past week has been for his family as he endured personal attacks and a very public rush to judgment on social media. Under the advice of counsel, he made no statements or responses. He did not defend himself, but instead trusted in the system to deliver justice. Today’s decision speaks for itself.
“He wants his supporters to know that it was his relationship with God that saw his family through this painful and challenging time. I can assure everyone that Mr. McNeill feels an even stronger commitment to his community and is choosing to focus on his future. While on leave, he prayed continuously and spent time with his wife and children. He trusts that God uses all things, even tribulation for a greater purpose. To those who stood by him during this difficult time, he says, ‘Thank you. The support, prayers, and encouragement meant more than words can express.’”
Columbus police report on Hardaway principal’s arrest
Through a request under the Georgia Open Records Act, the Ledger-Enquirer received a copy of the Columbus Police Department report that reveals details about why McNeill was arrested on the now-dismissed charge of criminal trespass.
On Sept. 14, at around 12:30 p.m., a police officer was dispatched to Greater Beallwood Baptist Church, 4419 Sherwood Ave., in reference to vandalism, according to the CPD report about McNeill’s arrest. Upon arrival, the officer interviewed the victim and two witnesses.
The victim told the officer that McNeill, 39, slashed the front tires of his car with a knife, the report says. Although the victim didn’t see the incident, he said witnesses notified him, according to the report.
“(The victim) further explained that he was currently training to be a pastor at the church and as part of the training, he speaks with several individuals in a counselor role at the church,” the police report says. “Since taking on the role, he explained that he has been a counselor for the suspect and the suspect’s wife. He added that since (he) has been counseling them, neither of them knew he was counseling the other and that the suspect got upset/angry with him for speaking to his wife.”
Both witnesses told the officer they were on the front steps of the church when they heard a “pop” and the sound of air exiting a tire, the report says.
They looked in that direction and saw the suspect holding a knife while standing by the driver’s side front tire of the victim’s vehicle, according to the report.
Then the witnesses saw the suspect walk around the car to the passenger side front tire and puncture it with the knife, the report says.
On Sept. 17, at around 7:30 a.m., a warrant was issued for McNeill’s arrest. He turned himself in on the same date at CPD’s headquarters, according to the report.
Brittany Santiago, public information officer for CPD, told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email Friday, “The plaintiff/victim chose to drop the charges during (Columbus Recorder’s Court) proceedings yesterday, which resulted in the case being dismissed.”
Maurdrice McNeill’s background
The MCSD board unanimously approved superintendent David Lewis’ recommendation to promote McNeill from an assistant principal at Hardaway to principal of the school in May 2022.
According to his resume, which was attached to the board’s agenda for that meeting, McNeill has been an educator for 16 years, all in MCSD. Before being an assistant principal at Hardaway for two years, he was assistant principal at Brewer Elementary School (2018-20) and a health/physical education teacher at Aaron Cohn Middle School (2015-18), Carver High School (2013-15), Shaw High School (2011-13), East Columbus Magnet Academy (2010) and Baker Middle School (2009-10). He also has coached football and track & field.
McNeill earned a bachelor’s degree (2009) and a master’s degree (2011) in health and physical education from Albany State University. He earned a specialist’s degree in health and physical education from Jacksonville State University in 2013 and an educational leadership certificate from Columbus State University in 2017.
This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 3:33 PM.
