Second Trial Date Set in Burrell Ellis Corruption Case

Suspended DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis – whose fate has been in limbo since a mistrial was declared in October on 13 bribery and corruption charges – will be tried a second time.

Ellis’ case will return to trial on June 1, reports WGCL TV, with pre-trial hearings set to begin March 26.

In his first trial, the sometimes squabbling jury sent three notes to the judge saying they could not reach agreement on any of the charges against Ellis before a mistrial was declared Oct. 21.

Ellis remains under indictment and is still suspended as the county’s CEO as he awaits the second trial.

As deliberations drug on, jurors received a scolding from Judge Courtney Johnson for asking to start a weekend early. The following week Johnson reminded the jury members how much time and effort has gone into the trial.

She then read from the law, what is known as a “dynamite charge,” says the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, when a trial seems to be headed toward a hung jury. The law reiterates a juror’s duty to fairly listen to all evidence and views during deliberation.

Squabbling jurors were sent home early one week by the judge because they were stressed and disagreed on the leadership of the foreperson. When Judge Courtney Johnson dismissed jurors on Oct. 9 it was apparent one juror had been crying, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Star Prosecution Witness

Much of the prosecution’s case rested on testimony given by DeKalb Purchasing Director Kelvin Walton, who told the jury Ellis questioned why firms receiving large contracts from the county didn’t donate to his campaign.

Ellis denied in court that he ever penalized companies that wouldn’t contribute to his re-election campaign.

“I never asked anything in exchange for a campaign contribution. I never promised anything,” Ellis said, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Ellis asked for lists of county contractors, and their phone numbers, in order to ask for campaign donations, according to testimony from Walton. Walton recorded conversations he had with his boss to collect evidence for prosecutors, reports The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Secret Recordings

The jury heard a recording of Ellis telling Walton to place a note in the file of Power and Energy Services so no other county work went to the company.

Walton testified he kept and regularly updated lists of vendors who had contracts with the county so Ellis could solicit the business owners for campaign contributions, FOX Atlanta reports. He said the CEO told him to let contracts expire if a donation wasn’t made to his re-election effort.

Ellis was indicted in the summer of 2013 by a DeKalb County grand jury on charges he illegally pressured contractors into giving him campaign contributions. He faces 14 felony charges that accuse him of shaking down county vendors for campaign donations and punishing those who did not give, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

»Former DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis in court. Credit: FOX Atlanta screenshot

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