Balfour trial set for Dec. 16

State Sen. Don Balfour, R-Snellville, has requested a speedy trial, and a Fulton County judge has granted his wish.

A person close to the case, who was not authorized to speak for the record, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, that Balfour’s trial will begin Dec. 16. Balfour attorney Ken Hodges confirmed the date to Channel 2 Action News.

Balfour, the Senate’s longest-serving Republican and once one of its most powerful members, is charged with 18 counts of filing false expense claims and theft. He was indicted in September on allegations that he charged the state for expenses on days he did not have those expenses. He has repeatedly said he made mistakes on his expense reports but did nothing intentional.