DOWNTOWN "OFFICE CREEPER" CONVICTED, SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS

Defendant Previously Convicted of Stealing From DA and Sheriff's Staff

Atlanta- After just thirty minutes of deliberations, William Carter, the defendant best known as the "Downtown Office Creeper", was convicted today of Burglary and Theft by taking by a Fulton County Jury. He was sentenced immediately to 20 years in prison by presiding Judge Robert Mallis. Because he is a recidivist, Carter must serve every day in prison without parole.

The incident for which Carter, 44, was convicted happened at 285 Peachtree Center Avenue on January 3, 2008. An employee of the Deloitte Company, which was located in the office building at the time, reported to police that her purse was stolen from her workstation after lunch. The suspect was spotted on surveillance equipment leaving the office with the victim's belongings. He was arrested a few days later. Carter had been implicated in several previous office thefts, prompting a series of informal meetings of the Downtown Security Forum--- a consortium of security managers.

William Carter has four prior felony convictions which included charges of Burglary, Theft by Taking, Impersonating a Police Officer and various weapons offenses. At the time of the Deloitte Office burglary, Carter was on probation for a 2004 felony conviction for stealing a Fulton County District Attorney's badge and personal belongings in addition to two guns from the Fulton County Sheriff's department. He was sentenced to serve four years in prison for the 2004 theft.

Community Prosecutor Sharla Jackson, who represents the Zone 5 community where several businesses were impacted by these crimes, prosecuted the case with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Billy Miles and DA Investigator Kenneth Rucker. Sergeant A. Ezell and Detective P.J. Roberson with the Atlanta Police Department led the initial investigation.

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