Judge's Actions Questioned After Charges Reversed in DeKalb Schools Scandal

Prosecutors have called into question the actions of Superior Court Justice Cynthia J. Becker, who is presiding over the controversial DeKalb Schools racketeering case.

They claim the judge made defendants Pat Reid and Tony Pope aware of their release and overturned charges that had been brought against both without meeting with officials from the district attorney’s office and before officially filing the court order.

Convicted last December for racketeering and theft, former DeKalb County Schools Chief Operating Officer Pat Reid and ex-husband and construction contractor Tony Pope respectively received sentences of 15 and eight years in prison.

In their conviction, DeKalb prosecutors argued that Reid arranged for the district to pay Pope more than $1.4 million for construction contracts of which he should not have been the beneficiary. Both individuals have currently served 10 months of their sentences.

According to the Atlanta Constitution-Journal, prosecutors have reported Becker’s actions, but have not released the agency to which their complaint was submitted.

Judge Becker submitted a court order on Oct. 27 to overturn the charges for which Pope and Reid were convicted, and the state appellate court approved prosecutors’ request to delay the convicts’ release on Oct. 29.

Related Links:

• DeKalb County Court Puts Hold on Release of Convicts from School Corruption Case

• Jury Selection Continues in DeKalb Schools Racketeering Case
• Convictions in DeKalb Schools Racketeering Trial Thrown Out
• Does Crawford Lewis Deserve Jail Time?

Patch file photo

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