Local News
Local News

AJC EXCLUSIVE: Bribery charge brought against DeKalb official

By
Feb 13, 2015

A former DeKalb County official is facing a bribery charge in federal court.

Federal prosecutors accuse Jerry Clark, a member of the DeKalb Zoning Board of Appeals until 2013, of receiving $3,500 related to the alleged offense, according to criminal information released Friday.

Clark allegedly solicited and accepted a bribe in exchange for influence on transactions involving DeKalb County government, according to prosecutors’ court filing. The transactions were valued at more than $5,000.

It’s unclear who allegedly bribed Clark or what he may have provided in return.

Clark declined to comment when reached by phone Friday. His attorney, R. Gary Spencer, didn’t return a phone call seeking comment.

Clark is scheduled to enter a plea Thursday.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

Follow Mark Niesse on twitter
More Stories

The Latest

Marando Salmon, 37, was shot and killed by DeKalb County police on Nov. 4, 2022. (Courtesy of DeKalb County District Attorney's Office)

Credit: Provided by DeKalb County District Attorney's Office

Ex-DeKalb officer reindicted in 2022 shooting death in prosecutor’s redo

1h ago

Justices skeptical of Atlanta lawyer’s disbarment defense

1h ago

Lawsuit: College Park councilman pushed employee to carry out ‘vendettas’

1h ago

Featured

Fulton DA Fani Willis (center) with Nathan J. Wade (right), the special prosecutor she hired to manage the Trump case and had a romantic relationship with, at a news conference announcing charges against President-elect Donald Trump and others in Atlanta, Aug. 14, 2023. Georgia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, upheld an appeals court's decision to disqualify Willis from the election interference case against Trump and his allies. (Kenny Holston/New York Times)

Credit: NYT

Fani Willis loses last chance to stay at the helm of Trump Georgia election interference case

Georgia's top court declines to hear Fani Willis appeal in Trump case, meaning she can no longer pursue the election interference case.

Investigator: Ex-APD officer raped woman on duty, returned when she called 911

Fulton County Magistrate Judge Todd Ashley ruled there was enough evidence for the case to proceed against former officer Muhammad Muhammad.

Cobb County agency green lights tax break for Home Depot’s $140M project

The Development Authority of Cobb County voted 6-0 to give initial approval for Home Depot's request Tuesday but didn't disclose the property tax savings the company sought.