After serving one year in prison for gaming DeKalb County school construction contracts, a formerly married couple will be released on bail while appeals are pending.
DeKalb Superior Court Chief Judge Gregory Adams on Monday ordered a $75,000 bail for Pat Reid, who was the school system’s chief operating officer, and a $50,000 bail for Tony Pope, an architect who received work from the school system while married to Reid.
A jury convicted Reid and Pope in November 2013, and they were sentenced to serve 15 years and 12 years, respectively.
But a judge reversed the convictions in October, and the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled they are entitled to “reasonable bail” while prosecutors appeal that decision. The appellate court will decide in the coming months whether to uphold their convictions or give them another day in court.
Reid and Pope remained incarcerated Monday. They could be released later this week after their families raise money for bail, their lawyers said.
Reid continues to maintain her innocence, said her attorney, Tony Axam.
“She thinks the jury got it wrong in this case,” Axam said. “We are ready to stand trial on any charges because we protest any charges against her, and we will prove that in court.”
The original judge in the case, Judge Cynthia Becker, reversed the convictions of Reid and Pope because she didn’t believe DeKalb schools Superintendent Crawford Lewis was truthful during their trial.
Lewis testified against Reid and Pope as part of a plea deal with prosecutors that called for probation, but Becker instead sentenced him to 12 months in jail. Lewis’ jail sentence was thrown out on appeal.
“This was a man and woman who were convicted based on considerable perjured testimony,” said John Petrey, an attorney for Pope. “I believe that our clients are entitled to and will receive a new trial.”
Becker, whose handling of the case is being investigating by the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission, has recused herself from further oversight of the proceedings. Becker has resigned from the court, effective March 1, because she’s engaged to be married.
Prosecutors had sought higher bails — of $150,000 for Reid and $100,000 for Pope — but Judge Adams cut that in half. Attorneys for Reid and Pope had asked for a $15,000 bail.
If they’re released, Reid and Pope can’t leave the state, contact witnesses or possess firearms.
During their trial, prosecutors argued that Reid and Pope worked together to profit from construction projects at Columbia High School and the McNair Cluster Elementary School, with Pope receiving $1.4 million more than he should have.
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