Former Stockbridge Mayor Lee Stuart pleaded no contest in Fulton County Superior Court Tuesday afternoon on a misdemeanor count of unprofessional conduct by a public officer.
The plea was taken at 2 p.m. before presiding Fulton County Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall, according to Fulton County District Attorney spokeswoman Yvette Jones.
The Stockbridge City Council voted Stuart out of office last week. The vote was the result of an investigation into allegations that Stuart misused city funds and created a hostile work environment.
The misdemeanor charge against Stuart stems from a Jan. 19 incident at the Georgia Municipal Association Building in Fulton County. Stuart was engaged in a mediation session with representatives from the City of Stockbridge against whom he had filed a lawsuit over mayoral powers. Stuart is accused of secretly taping the mediator’s private session with the opposing side. The session was captured on a digital recorder that Stuart allegedly stashed in the room without the opposing party’s knowledge or consent. A third party, whose assistance the mayor reportedly sought to download the recording, reported the incident to authorities, according to Jones.
According to the terms of his plea agreement, Stuart was sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, along with $5,000 restitution to Fulton County.
Stuart was granted first offender status, but in accordance with the law, ‘the accused shall be removed from office’ upon conviction of this crime, Jones said in an email.
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