Sentences Reduced for Three School Cheating Defendants

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Three of the highest-ranking defendants in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating trial have been re-sentenced after the judge decided he had been too severe during the original sentencing.

School Resource Team Executive Directors Sharon Davis-Williams, Tamara Cotman, and Michael Pitts, whose jobs were to focus on turning around the troubled district, were originally each sentenced to 20 years, with seven to serve in prison on April 14. The executives were also ordered to complete 2,000 hours of community service and pay a $25,000 fine.

Since the sentencing, Judge Jerry Baxter had felt regrets over the harsh sentences meted out to Davis-Williams, Cotman, and Pitts, the AJC reports. On Thursday, Baxter followed the recommendations originally submitted by prosecutors and re-sentenced the three defendants to 10 years, with three to serve in prison and the rest on probation.

“The punishments are in line but I want them to be something I consider fair and I can deal with,” said Baxter, who plans to retire soon, the AJC says.

Investigators found 250,000 test answers were altered during a two-year investigation at 58 Atlanta schools. Ten APS educators were found guilty on racketeering charges by a Fulton County jury April 1. Some defendants were also convicted on charges of making false statements and false swearing.

In 2013, 35 APS employees, including Superintendent Dr. Beverly Hall, were indicted in connection to the case. Twenty-one of the defendants pleaded guilty before trial. One defendant died prior to trial. Hall, who had been battling advanced stage breast cancer, was unable to participate in the trial and died last month.