Atlanta, Georgia Criminal Attorneys

Mark Gary, a developer in Gwinnett County convicted for bribery, got a reprieve for his cooperation in an ongoing federal probe of alleged corruption in Gwinnett.

Instead of getting to spend more than four years in federal prison, Gary was meted with just two years plus three years under probation.

Gary was convicted for bribing Shirley Lasseter, the former commissioner of Gwinnett County, to vote for his proposal of a station for waste transfer costing $4 million.

Doug Gilfillan, the assistant United States attorney, said he agreed to reducing the sentence as Gary's cooperation, which included secretly recording his conversations with elected officials, could lead to the indictment of another person involved in the alleged corruption.

However, Atlanta defense attorney Paul Kish representing Gary, said that he and his client are disappointed with the sentence.

According to Kish, Gary deserved more because his cooperation was extensive.

But the judge did not buy Gary's claim that he was a victim of what he alleges as a corrupt system in Gwinnett.

It is not known when the trial of DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis will begin after Courtney L. Johnson, a Superior Court Judge, approved the defense's request for a delay.

Ellis was supposed to stand trial for corruption starting August 19.

The defense lawyers' request did not include a date for the trial to begin.

Jill Polster, Atlanta criminal defense attorney, said the delay will be for the best interest of the residents of DeKalb County.

She added that no one wants to have a trial twice which is what happens when the first trial ends in a conviction and an appeal is filed because it was rushed.

Stephen Cothran was acquitted of rape and kidnapping charges in connection to an incident that happened in 1993.

Cothran, 56, became a suspect when his DNA linked him to evidence gathered during the incident.

However, a negative test had the jury dismissing the charges against Cothran.

Reuben Sheperd, a criminal attorney in Cleveland defending for Cothran, said that the victim had agreed to have sex with his client.

After 18 months in prison, Monsignor William Lynn, may be released when he was granted bail following the reversal of his conviction.

Lynn, who served as a secretary for clergy at the Philadelphia archdiocese, will have to give up his passport. He will also be made to wear an electronic device for monitoring.

The Roman Catholic official was sentenced to between three to six years after he was convicted for endangering an abuse victim of a priest.

However, appeal judges reversed Lynn's conviction because the child-endangerment law which he was accused of violating did not apply to him.

Following the reversal, Lynn's defense lawyers asked for his release which the prosecution opposed during the bail hearing claiming that the priest is a flight risk.

However, Philadelphia defense attorney Thomas Bergstrom said that Lynn would never run away from conviction.

J. Kevin Kelley was handed a six-year prison sentence for his involvement in the Cuyahoga corruption case, considered as one of the biggest in the county.

Kelley was the first defendant to offer his cooperation to the FBI who was investigating the corruption issue.

He admitted to being the one who collects and pays off the bribes to county officials.

During his sentencing, Kelley issued an apology to his family as well as the taxpayers of Cuyahoga County.

Kelley has also been ordered to pay restitution of about $700,000.

Kelley's cooperation ensured the cooperation of other defendants in the case and the conviction of several people involved in the corruption.

Cleveland defense attorney John Gibbons said there is no excuse for Kelley's involvement in the corruption, however, his cooperation is the best way for him to make amends.

The murder charge filed against Freddie Earl Patton,53, for the shooting death of his girlfriend's father, Kenneth Millar, 81, has been dismissed upon the request of the Deputy District Attorney.

An order for Patton's release from jail has been signed, however, he may not be off the hook yet as the DA's office has stated that the case will be turned over to the grand jury in Jefferson County.

The prosecution moved for the dismissal after arguing with the defense who wanted to further question the detective about the autopsy report.

Birmingham criminal attorney John Lentine said that a manslaughter charge should have been filed instead of murder because the shooting was an accident.

If Patton gets indicted, he will have to go back to jail.

Lashawn Sheldon was meted a sentence of about four years in prison after he was convicted of kidnapping and other domestic crimes.

Springfield defense attorney Dale E. Bass said that his client, Sheldon, committed most of the offences while he and the victim were breaking up.

Court heard that when the victim had decided to end her relationship with Sheldon, he had abducted and threatened her. He had also harassed her in her work place.

After serving his prison term, Sheldon will be put under probation for three years.