Former DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson is relying on the county's former top prosecutor to defend him against a felony charge of theft by conversion.
Watson hired former DeKalb District Attorney Robert James as his criminal defense attorney.
James, now a partner at Morriss, Shim & James, says he only learned about the allegations after he left office Dec. 31. But James also says his intimate knowledge of the criminal justice system will help mount a legal defense for Watson.
A DeKalb grand jury indicted Watson this week based on allegations that he received about $3,000 in travel advances for trips he never took.
Watson, who resigned in March 2016, didn't repay the money until after Channel 2 Action News and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported it was missing earlier this year.
Exclusive to subscribers: Read more about the ex-prosecutor’s reasons for defending Watson on myAJC.com.
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