GUILTY PLEA EXPECTED TODAY FROM FORMER GOVERNMENT HEAD

State vs. Davetta Johnson Mitchell

Atlanta- The former head of the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority has announced her intentions to enter a guilty plea to the charges against her. Indicted in 2007, Mitchell is charged with seven counts of Theft by Taking by a government employee.

Mitchell is accused of stealing over $30,000 from the agency over the course of three years from 2000 to 2003 when she served as Executive Director. Mitchell was indicted in 2007 following an extensive investigation. According to the investigation, the majority of the theft stemmed from Mitchell writing checks to herself on the agency’s account for vacation and sick leave she did not earn. Suspicious of the activity, the Board of Directors for the Recreation Authority asked the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit to investigate.

Mitchell’s plea is expected to be heard this afternoon before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall. According to the terms of the agreement, Mitchell will be placed on probation for five years and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $20,000. $10,000 of that amount is due at the time of plea, the remainder to be paid over the course of her five years on probation.

Media Contact: Yvette Brown, 404-224-0560/404-392-8867, yvette.brown@fultoncountyga.gov