Though he was absent at Monday’s special called meeting of the Marietta City Council, Councilman Anthony Coleman will be able to continue to serve as he has for nearly 15 years - at least for now.
The Rev. Coleman avoided jail time during his sentencing hearing on Monday after being convicted Thursday of lying about his girlfriend’s community service, according to a WSBTV report.
In a letter dated Dec. 15, 2013, Coleman said Terry Jones Mays completed 59 hours of community service, a condition of her probation for a DUI and reckless driving conviction.
But officials said Coleman gave the letter to the Probation Department at least five days earlier.
Jurors acquitted Coleman of two other counts of making a false statements and one count of racketeering.
Judge LaTain Kell said Monday it was not his decision to make on whether Coleman can continue to serve on the City Council.
However, Kell did sentence Coleman to serve 500 hours of community service and five years of probation and pay a $1,000 fine.
City Attorney Doug Haynie said Coleman has 30 days to appeal Kell’s decision.
If he is removed from Council, Mayor Steve Tumlin said during Monday’s meeting that a special election would need to be held in 30 days from the date of his dismissal.
Haynie is expected to return to Council with a recommendation on Coleman’s possible Council removal, said city spokeswoman Lindsey Wiles Monday in an emailed statement to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“I don’t think they have determined that. We meet next Wednesday for the regularly scheduled committee meetings, but I don’t think it will be presented there,” Wiles said.
Haynie told Council he attended Monday’s hearing when the Cobb District Attorney’s office requested of Kell that Coleman serve one year in jail and be suspended from Council.
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