Georgia sheriff accused of exposing himself makes plea deal

[TexasTowelie]

A Georgia sheriff accused of exposing himself in an Atlanta park has pleaded guilty to violating two city ordinances after prosecutors agreed to drop a public indecency charge.

News outlets report DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey Mann pleaded guilty Thursday to engaging in prohibited conduct in a public park and obstructing a police officer.

As part of his plea deal, Mann was given a 180-day sentence that will be suspended as soon as he pays fines totaling $2,000. Municipal Court Judge Crystal Gaines also sentenced Mann to 80 hours of community service for both violations and banished him from Atlanta’s public parks for the duration of his sentence.

Mann returned to work this week after completing a 40-day suspension ordered by Gov. Nathan Deal.

http://evans.allongeorgia.com/georgia-sheriff-accused-of-exposing-himself-makes-plea-deal/

[left-of-center2012]

1. What a sweetheart deal - and he keeps his job

From another source:
"... prosecutors agreed to change the indecency charge to prohibited conduct, for being in the park after dark."

And:
Geraldine Champion, a retired homicide detective who ran against Mann in the Democratic primary, said he should ask DeKalb taxpayers for forgiveness.

“Anybody that did a crime that embarrassing, there’s no way in the world he can be over a jail with prisoners in there who did the same kind of things,” she said.

From another link:
"According to the incident report, obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mann was observed in a part of Piedmont Park known for “sexual acts after dark.”

Mann had exposed himself and was walking in the direction of a police officer, the report states.

Once he got within 10 feet, the report continues, the officer turned his flashlight on Mann, identifying himself as police and commanding him to stop.

Mann fled instead, leading the officer on a quarter-mile run before finally giving up."

[TexasTowelie]

2. Yes, it is a sweetheart deal that I doubt anyone else would have been lucky to obtain.

It also sounds like they could have charged him with evading arrest.