Pat Reid and her ex-husband, Tony Pope, who were convicted in a DeKalb County school construction scandal last year, should not have been granted new trials, according to a ruling today by the Georgia Court of Appeals.
In the 9-page ruling, the court found that Judge Cynthia Becker should not have granted a new trial for Pope because there was no motion pending at the time of the decision. The ruling also stated there are motions for the court to consider in Reid’s case, but she should not have been given a new trial.
In November Judge Cynthia Becker overturned the convictions of Pat Reid and her ex-husband, Tony Pope and they were released from custody in December.
Both were convicted in a DeKalb County school construction scandal last year.
In a recent court order, Becker noted a “lack of complete and truthful” testimony in nine specific areas from Former Superintendent Crawford Lewis
An appeals court judge initially halted Reid and Pope’s release from jail.
Lewis was accused of knowingly signing off on a scheme in which DeKalb schools’ Chief Operating Officer Patricia Pope, now Pat Reid, funneled work to her architect husband, Tony Pope. Prosecutors said the fraudulent payments totaled more than $2.3 million.
Lewis was sentenced to spend one year behind bars by Becker last year, despite striking a plea agreement that would allow him to avoid jail time and spend one year on probation.
At the time, Becker said she was not bound to the plea agreement, but the district attorney said Becker agreed to the terms. Lewis served nearly a week in jail before being released on bond after his attorney filed an emergency motion.
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