3 Atlanta Cheating Scandal Educators Get Reduced Sentences
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter has reduced the sentences of three defendants in the Atlanta cheating trial on Thursday. Baxter said he had a change of heart, but some attorneys think a legal problem was at the root of his decision.
Former educators Michael Pitts, Tamara Cotman, and Sharon Davis-Williams were originally sentenced to 20 years in prison – to serve seven with the rest on probation. That was more than double what prosecutors recommended.
Today, Judge Baxter showed remorse.
“I have done a lot of reflecting on my sentence that I rendered two weeks ago. I’m not comfortable with it,” Baxter said.
Baxter reduced the sentences for Cotman, Davis-Williams and Pitts to three years in prison and seven on probation. They were also fined and sentenced to community service.
Defense attorney Benjamin Davis, who represents Tamara Cotman, said he thinks the judge sentenced the defendants under the wrong law initially.
“He didn’t appropriately sentence nor did he appropriately charge the jury as to the crimes these defendants were accused of committing,” Davis said.
Davis said the defendants should have been sentenced under the state’s conspiracy law. That carries a maximum sentence of ten years – what each of the three defendants now have.
A note of disclosure: WABE’s broadcast license is held by the Atlanta Board of Education.
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