Police Chief and Wife Accused of Stealing from Children’s Christmas Fund

A police chief and his wife are facing serious allegations for reportedly stealing over $30,000 from a Christmas fund designated for underprivileged children in their Georgia county.

Woodrow “Peewee” Wilson Burkhalter, age 55, along with his 53-year-old wife Angela, are accused of embezzling around $33,000 from the Atkinson County Christmas Fund annually from 2019 to 2025, as per an announcement by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Burkhalter held the position of police chief in Pearson, Georgia, from 2020 to 2024, during which time he was also in charge of overseeing funds aimed at purchasing Christmas gifts for kids in need.

Currently, he is facing 28 counts of theft by conversion. Angela is charged with one count of being complicit in theft, along with one count of theft by conversion.

Both were apprehended and processed at the Atkinson County Jail this past Tuesday.

Pearson Mayor Jason Joyner expressed his disappointment, stating that it’s heartbreaking to realize that contributions meant for children didn’t actually reach them. He added that the city would strive to maintain transparency and focus on what’s best for the community.

The situation in Pearson appears to be complex; earlier this year, the deputy city clerk, also the daughter of a city council member, had her own brush with the law as she faced DUI charges and had a prior incident involving gunfire. Additionally, Joyner’s predecessor faced legal trouble in 2025 due to a lengthy GBI corruption investigation.