Man charged with New Birth burglary going to diversion program

By Shelia M. Poole

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Maurice Robinson, one of  the four young men suing Bishop Eddie Long claiming sexual misconduct, has been accepted into a pretrial diversion program for his alleged participation in a burglary at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia earlier this year.

According to information from the DeKalb District Attorney's Office, the goals of the program are to reduce trial caseloads and rehabilitate non-violent first-time offenders.

Robinson must complete the program and activities. If he does, the case may be dismissed and the charge can also be expunged from his arrest record, according to information on the program from the DA's office.

If Robinson does not complete the program, it will mean a continuation of the charges and prosecution of the case in court. Participation is voluntary.

Victim input is required for participation in the diversion program.

Robinson and Anthony Boyd were charged with breaking into Long’s office and taking an iPod, iPad and jewelry, according to a police report.

Attorney B.J. Bernstein, who is representing the four men suing Long and New Birth, said Robinson committed the burglary out of “retaliation” after learning that Long was involved with other men.

After the break-in, Long asked former District Attorney Gwen Keyes-Fleming to drop the charges, Chief Assistant District Attorney Don Geary told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an earlier interview. Keyes-Fleming, who later took a job with the Environmental Protection Agency, denied that request.

“He did request we not prosecute both parties,” Geary told the newspaper.

On Sunday, a South Carolina minister and a Texas radio talk show host plan to hold a rally at 2 p.m. at the State Capitol demanding that Long step down as senior pastor of the Lithonia church. Radio host and author Reuben Armstrong said he thinks Long should step down, at the least, until there is a resolution to the lawsuits.

Robinson and three others are suing Long and New Birth alleging that the prominent bishop used his influence, trips, gifts and jobs to coerce them into having sexual relations. The church's mentoring program, LongFellows Youth Academy, has been named in three of the suits.

In a statement released earlier, Long said the allegations were false.