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Jailed former DeKalb superintendent challenges sentence

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2 Action News has learned an attorney for former DeKalb Schools Superintendent Crawford Lewis filed court papers late Tuesday, saying a judge violated a plea agreement by sentencing Lewis to jail instead of probation as recommended by the district attorney.

Channel 2's Tom Regan was there when the court clerk filed the motion asking for a reconsideration of the sentence and requesting the judge to remove herself from the case if the motion is rejected.

It also said Lewis may withdraw his guilty plea.

Superior Court Judge Cynthia Becker sentenced Lewis to 12 months in custody for his guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of obstruction.

In October, Lewis agreed to plead guilty and testified against is former co-defendants in exchange for a lesser charge and no jail sentence.

Lewis testified in the trial of former DeKalb COO Pat Reid and her ex-husband Tony Pope. Prosecutors said Reid steered more than $1 million in school building projects to Pope's architecture firm.

Last month, a jury convicted Reid on racketeering and theft charges. Pope was convicted of racketeering.

On Monday, Becker sentenced Reid to 15 years in prison. Pope received an eight-year sentence and was ordered to pay $172,000 in restitution.