AJC Photos: Big changes for man accused of I-85 bridge collapse

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Big changes for man accused of I-85 bridge collapse

Basil Eleby graduated from a mental health and sobriety program he agreed to as part of a deal with Atlanta prosecutors.

Basil Eleby smiles after receiving his certificate of completion during the Fulton County Behavioral Health Treatment Court Transition program graduation on Friday, February 28, 2020, at the Fulton County Government Center Assembly Hall in Atlanta. Eleby, the scapegoat accused of starting the fire that caused the I-85 bridge collapse, graduated from the 18-month mental health and sobriety program that he agreed to as part of a deal with prosecutors (Christina Matacotta, for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

Basil Eleby sits and watches a video of himself speaking about his treatment during the Fulton County Behavioral Health Treatment Court Transition program graduation on Friday, February 28, 2020, at the Fulton County Government Center Assembly Hall in Atlanta. Eleby, the scapegoat accused of starting the fire that caused the I-85 bridge collapse, graduated from the 18-month mental health and sobriety program that he agreed to as part of a deal with prosecutors (Christina Matacotta, for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

Basil Eleby wears a medal after the Fulton County Behavioral Health Treatment Court Transition program graduation on Friday, February 28, 2020, at the Fulton County Government Center Assembly Hall in Atlanta. Eleby, the scapegoat accused of starting the fire that caused the I-85 bridge collapse, graduated from the 18-month mental health and sobriety program that he agreed to as part of a deal with prosecutors (Christina Matacotta, for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

April 6, 2017 Atlanta - A homeless man walks past sections of I-85 that were damaged by a fire on Thursday, April 6, 2017. Basil Eleby, the homeless man charged with starting the fire that brought down I-85. Georgia transportation officials are acting like the agency did nothing wrong in regard to the raging fire that brought down the I-85 bridge, that it was just some freak occurrence. We talk to transportation officials elsewhere and experts who say it was a bad idea to place all those materials in a place known to be home for often unstable homeless people. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Basil Eleby (Fulton County Sheriffs Office)

April 1, 2017, Atlanta, Georgia - Basil Eleby and his public defender speak to one another behind an open folder at Eleby's first hearing appearance at Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 1, 2017. Eleby received two charges of $100,000 each amounting to total bail of $200,000 for Criminal Damage 1st Degree and Arson 1st Degree after setting a fire underneath a bridge on I-85 NB that would eventually cause a section of the bridge on I-85 to be closed off indefinitely. (HENRY TAYLOR / HENRY.TAYLOR@AJC.COM)

April 6, 2017 Atlanta - Menge Gizachew, owner of GT Auto Repair, shows a broken-down Mercedes that he let Basil Eleby, the homeless man charged with starting the fire that brought down I-85, sleep near the sections of I-85 that were damaged by a fire on Thursday, April 6, 2017. Menge Gizachew had given him odd jobs. And he let Basil sleep in a broken down Mercedes behind the shop. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Basil Eleby walks to receive his certificate during the Fulton County Behavioral Health Treatment Court Transition program graduation on Friday, February 28, 2020, at the Fulton County Government Center Assembly Hall in Atlanta. Eleby, the scapegoat accused of starting the fire that caused the I-85 bridge collapse, graduated from the 18-month mental health and sobriety program that he agreed to as part of a deal with prosecutors (Christina Matacotta, for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

Oritsegbubemi Uwaifo, behavioral health service coordinator for accountability court, tears up while watching a video of Basil Eleby speak about his treatment during the Fulton County Behavioral Health Treatment Court Transition program graduation on Friday, February 28, 2020, at the Fulton County Government Center Assembly Hall in Atlanta. Eleby, the scapegoat accused of starting the fire that caused the I-85 bridge collapse, graduated from the 18-month mental health and sobriety program that he agreed to as part of a deal with prosecutors (Christina Matacotta, for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

Attendees clap for Basil Eleby as he receives his certificate of completion during the Fulton County Behavioral Health Treatment Court Transition program graduation on Friday, February 28, 2020, at the Fulton County Government Center Assembly Hall in Atlanta. Eleby, the scapegoat accused of starting the fire that caused the I-85 bridge collapse, graduated from the 18-month mental health and sobriety program that he agreed to as part of a deal with prosecutors (Christina Matacotta, for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

Basil Eleby hugs Judge Rebecca Crumrine Rieder after receiving his certificate during the Fulton County Behavioral Health Treatment Court Transition program graduation on Friday, February 28, 2020, at the Fulton County Government Center Assembly Hall in Atlanta. Eleby, the scapegoat accused of starting the fire that caused the I-85 bridge collapse, graduated from the 18-month mental health and sobriety program that he agreed to as part of a deal with prosecutors (Christina Matacotta, for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

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Basil Eleby smiles after receiving his certificate of completion during the Fulton County Behavioral Health Treatment Court Transition program graduation on Friday, February 28, 2020, at the Fulton County Government Center Assembly Hall in Atlanta. Eleby, the scapegoat accused of starting the fire that caused the I-85 bridge collapse, graduated from the 18-month mental health and sobriety program that he agreed to as part of a deal with prosecutors (Christina Matacotta, for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

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