Clayton County school board member Norreese Haynes pleaded not guilty Friday morning in Cobb County Magistrate Court on charges he assaulted his roommate.

Marietta police arrested Haynes, 37, on Dec. 2 after he allegedly slapped, pushed and strangled Juan Green.

Andy Sharp / AJC

Clayton County school board member Norreese Haynes (left) stand in court with attorney Benjamin Davis (right).

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Green, who described himself as Haynes' live-in boyfriend of five years, told Marietta police Haynes assaulted him after returning to their Marietta apartment about 4 a.m.

During the dispute, Haynes slapped Green, 31, on the face, pushed him to the floor and strangled him, according to a police report.

Marietta police arrested Haynes on charges of simple battery. Haynes said the incident was self-defense and is requesting a jury trial.

Haynes is also under investigation for living outside the Clayton County school board district. Haynes says he lives in Clayton but keeps an apartment in Marietta, where he takes classes at the University of Phoenix.

State law says board members must reside in the county they serve.

Clayton police learned about Haynes' apparent Cobb County residence after discovering the board member was arrested in the Dec. 2 domestic dispute.

According to a Feb. 27 Clayton County police report, Haynes "may have never lived within his represented district."

"Clearly probable cause has been developed that Haynes has on several occasions provided false affidavits to the Elections Division of the Probate Court, and violated his oath of office," Clayton County police wrote in the report. "Haynes currently lives at an address in Cobb County and can no longer lawfully hold his elected office."

Clayton police launched an investigation into the residency of each of the nine school board members after the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools questioned whether some members live in their districts. SACS recommended two weeks ago that Clayton schools' accreditation be revoked effective Sept. 1.

Haynes was elected to the District 8 school board seat in 2006. In April 2006, he signed a sworn affidavit that said he lived at 2722 Starr Road in Morrow. He also signed campaign contribution disclosure reports as recently as Dec. 28 and voter registration forms that listed his address as Starr Road.

However, a woman who lives at the Morrow address told police the board member rented a room but never has lived there.

Natasha Barnes told police her mother rented Haynes a room at the Starr Road home in April 2006.

"He did move a few items and boxes into the last room. He never physical[ly] ever moved into the room," Barnes wrote in a statement to Clayton police. "He did have a phone line installed in his room. To my knowledge, he has never physically slept in the room he is renting from my mother."

Barnes told police she turned Haynes' room into a playroom about four months ago.

Haynes is scheduled to be back in the Cobb court on May 16.

Staff writers Yolanda Rodriguez, Kathy Jefcoats and Eric Stirgus contributed to this article.