Marietta City Councilman Convicted of Felony

MARIETTA, GA -- A Marietta City Councilman was convicted on Thursday of making a false statement, a felony.

A jury convicted Anthony Calvin Coleman, 58, of one count of making a false statement, for sending a letter from his city office to the city's probation department indicating that Coleman’s girlfriend, Terry Jones Mays, had completed 59 hours of community service at Marietta Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Jones had not performed any of her required community service. That letter was dated Dec. 15, 2013, but was given to the probation department on or before Dec. 10, 2013.

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The pastor of Marietta Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Joseph Comeaux, died in December.

Jurors acquitted Coleman of two other counts of making a false statement and one count of racketeering.

“Once again, as with other corrupt public officials before him, Mr. Coleman demonstrated an outrageous abuse of his position and violated the public trust, by filing a false document on behalf of his girlfriend,” said Deputy Chief ADA John Melvin, who prosecuted the case. “The jury spoke clearly with this guilty verdict: Cobb County applies the law equally to all.”

“This is a clear abuse of the public trust by an elected official," said Cobb DA Vic Reynolds.

Cobb Superior Court Judge C. LaTain Kell set sentencing for 1:30 p.m. Monday and allowed Coleman to remain free until sentencing. Coleman could be sentenced to up to five years in prison and fined $1,000.

Image: Marietta City Council