Brooks pleads not guilty, released on bond
State Rep. Tyrone Brooks Sr., accompanied by former Gov. Roy Barnes as his attorney, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to fraud and tax evasion charges.
Brooks, an Atlanta Democrat, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Alan Baverman, who allowed the longtime lawmaker to remain free until trial on an unsecured $25,000 bond.
Barnes told Baverman he was representing Brooks for free. For this reason, Barnes said he needed the court to appoint another lawyer to assist him.
But Baverman said he wasn’t sure whether the Criminal Justice Act, which allows indigent defendants to be provided lawyers free of charge, allowed him to appoint a lawyer for a defendant who already has one. Baverman said he would deny the request for now, but he also asked Barnes to file a written motion that details how much financial assistance he thinks will be necessary to defend the case.
On May 16, a federal grand jury in Atlanta indicted Brooks for allegedly diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars he raised for two charities for his own personal expenses. He is also accused of tax evasion.
Brooks plans to respond to the federal charges Thursday afternoon at a press conference at Barnes’ law firm in Marietta.
About the Author
Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.
