STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. — The Stockbridge City Council voted Saturday night to remove Mayor Jayden Williams from office after a nearly 10-hour hearing focused on allegations of misuse of city resources and inappropriate communications with an 18-year-old.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
The hearing began at 9 a.m. and continued throughout the day, with attorneys for the city and Williams presenting testimony and evidence. The council’s decision came just before 9 p.m.
Robert Ashe, an attorney representing the city and acting as the prosecutor during the hearing, presented evidence alleging Williams used city purchasing cards for personal expenses.
The city said those purchases included Lyft rides, haircuts, movie tickets, clothing, clothing alterations and restaurant meals.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Stockbridge mayor impeached by city council after misconduct investigation
- Teen son of Kim Zolciak, Kroy Biermann granted bond, put on house arrest
- Dancers forced to hand over hundreds in tips to work at gentlemen’s club, lawsuit says
One purchase highlighted during the hearing was a $322 Father’s Day purchase at Pandora in McDonough. The city said Williams used a city purchasing card to pay for his entire family.
Williams testified that he did not intentionally use the city’s cards for personal purchases and said many of his transactions were connected to city business.
Ashe also questioned Williams about whether he had read Stockbridge’s purchasing and ethics policy.
“So you have never read the City of Stockbridge purchasing and ethics policy? Is that your testimony?” Ashe asked.
Williams said he had not received a copy of the policy and testified that he had asked for the information he needed to know after being elected.
The city also presented evidence regarding Williams’ use of a city vehicle.
According to testimony presented during the hearing, Williams checked out a city vehicle 183 days between January and June. The city said that was all but nine days of his tenure in office during that period.
The city’s policy requires city-owned vehicles to be used only for official business or emergencies, according to the city.
The city also said Williams spent approximately $2,600 using the city’s fuel card.
The hearing also focused on text messages between Williams and an 18-year-old.
According to information presented during the hearing, some of the messages were sent around late November or Dec. 1, when Williams was still mayor-elect. The teen had turned 18 approximately two months before the Dec. 1 communication.
Another message in which the teen referred to being a distraction was sent in January, possibly after Williams had been sworn into office.
The city also presented allegations that nude photographs were exchanged.
During his testimony, Ashe questioned Williams about whether receiving nude photographs by text message was unusual or memorable.
Williams has denied wrongdoing.
Williams’ attorney, Robert Kenner, said he and the mayor were disappointed with the council’s decision.
“The mayor and I are deeply disappointed. I think that certain minds on the council were already made up,” Kenner said.
City officials held a press conference shortly after the decision was announced, saying in response, “If you already made a decision, why spend a whole day in a performance space, acting like you haven’t made a decision?”
The hearing came after weeks of legal disputes over the investigation. A retired judge previously ruled that Councilwoman LaKeisha Gantt could not participate in the proceedings after finding she had shown bias toward Williams.
Williams has the option to appeal the council’s decision; however, Kenner said he was not sure whether Williams would pursue an appeal.
The city has said a special election will be held to choose Stockbridge’s next mayor.
Williams’ removal ends his tenure after less than a year in office.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]