Marietta City Councilman Temporarily Suspended

MARIETTA, GA -- Anthony Coleman, recently found guilty of a felony, was temporarily suspended by the Marietta City Council during a specially called meeting on Friday.

A jury convicted 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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Last week, Coleman was sentenced to 500 hours of community service, five years of probation and a $1,000 fine.

On Friday, the council voted 5-1 to temporarily suspend Coleman, according to the AJC, pending the results of an appeal. Coleman has until June 12 to appeal the verdict if he chooses.

Gov. Nathan Deal can appoint someone to fill Coleman's Ward 5 vacancy, but has no time limit in which to do so.

Image: Marietta City Council