Former DeKalb County Commissioner Stan Watson is out on bond following his arrest on an accusation of misusing public funds.
Watson, 63, was released on $5,000 barely 30 minutes after he arrived at the county jail Tuesday night, records show.
A grand jury indicted Watson with theft earlier Tuesday, alleging he received about $3,000 in advances for government trips he never took.
Watson withdrew travel advances in January 2016 for conferences in Chicago and Savannah, but then resigned that March to run for DeKalb Tax Commissioner.
“The state alleges the expense money was then converted to personal use and not repaid until approximately one year later, well after Watson’s resignation,” according to a news release from District Attorney Sherry Boston’s office.
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“County policy requires any funds advanced for travel but not actually used for said travel be returned to the county immediately.”
Watson repaid the money after a Channel 2 Action News investigation.
He faces a single count of theft by conversion.
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