About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 2023)
FEBRUARY 23 - MARCH 1, 2023 www.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.com VOL 32 • NO. 35 e CHAMPION The official legal organ of DeKalb County, EA. Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Uthonia, Pine Lake, Tucker, Stonecrest and Stone Mountain. 504 LOCAL MARTA investment marks “historic day”for Stonecrest PAGE 2 LOCAL GoFundMe donations help Decatur man with heart transplant expenses On Feb. 17, a Fulton County judge denied an emergency temporary restraining order challenging permits recently approved by DeKalb County in the construction of a police training center. File photo Judge denies appeal to halt work at police training facility site BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM Former county commissioner gets probation for extortion BY JAY PHILLIPS JAY@dekalbchamp.com Former DeKalb County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton was sentenced to three years of probation and nine months of home detention on Feb. 14, according to a report from Law360. Barnes Sutton was found guilty by a jury in Atlanta on Nov. 2, 2022, of extorting a DeKalb County subcontractor in connection with a $1.8 million contract. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from about May 2014 to August 2014, Barnes Sutton, 63, of Stone Mountain, demanded monthly payments of $500 from a subcontractor. She later increased her demand to $1,000 per Sharon Barnes Sutton bypassed prison time after being found guilty of extortion during her time as a county commissioner. File photo month. The subcontractor made the first $500 payment in June 2014 at a restaurant in Decatur and the second PAGE 7 SPORTS DeKalb basketball teams advance to state playoffs PAGE 12 VISIT US ONLINE @ THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM lill fl, 641 1 6 00001 SEE BARNES SUTTON ON PAGE 6 Doraville police officer arrested in connection with death of missing teen A Fulton Countyjudge has denied an emergency temporary restraining order by a group that includes DeKalb County Commissioner Ted Terry and members of the South River Watershed Alliance, challenging permits recently approved by DeKalb County in the construction of a police training center. The hearing took place on Feb. 16 and the ruling came in on Feb. 17. In their appeal document, plaintiffs argue that work should stop on the property, which is located in DeKalb County but owned by the city of Atlanta, while appeals are being filed. On Feb. 15, officials with DeKalb County released documents that include land disturbance permit reviews, a timeline, and a report of inspection for the property located at 1350 Constitution Road and 561 Key Road. On Feb. 2, the DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability Department (DCPSD) issued a land development permit initiating Phase 1 of the land development process for the property. Phase 1 prohibits "mass grading or land disturbance," according to DCPSD documents. In the inspection report, officials noted that, "DeKalb County received BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM A Doraville police officer has been arrested and charged with felonies in relation to the disappearance and death of a 16-year-old girl. Miles Bryant, 22, of Norcross, has been charged with false reporting of a crime and concealing the death of another in the case of missing teenager Susana Morales whose remains were discovered Feb. 6 after she had been missing since July of last year. On Feb. 13, officials with the city of Doraville said they were "notified that a now former police officer was being served felony arrest warrants by the Gwinnett Police Department in connection with the disappearance and murder of Susana Morales." Miles Bryant, a former officer with the Doraville Police Department, has been arrested and charged with felonies in relation to the disappearance and death of 16-year-old Susana Morales. File photo The statement by Doraville officials continues, "the city of Doraville and its Police Department are fully cooperating with the Gwinnett Police Department in its investigation of Mr. Bryant. Our prayers rest with the family and friends of Susana Morales and SEE APPEAL ON PAGE 6 SEE DORAVILLE ON PAGE 6 \jjti Mb Social @DEKALBCHAMPNEWS
