An Atlanta lawyer for the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia has been named special prosecutor in the domestic violence case against Augusta Commission member Alvin Mason.
The office of state Attorney General Sam Olens reported Friday that Joe Burford is prosecuting the case against Mason. Burford serves as director of the attorneys council’s state prosecution support division.
Mason was charged Dec. 27 with family violence battery after his wife told Richmond County sheriff’s deputies that the commissioner had grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against the wall Dec. 23.
The Richmond County prosecutor who normally would handle domestic violence cases, State Court Solicitor Charles Evans, asked last month to recuse his office from handling the case because the commission sets its budget.
Augusta lawyer Freddie Sanders, who is representing Mason, said Friday that he believes Mason has a good defense.
“I just think it was a family disturbance that didn’t rise to the level of battery,” Sanders said. “These are just sad situations.”
Sanders and Olens’ office said the case will be tried in Augusta unless someone requests it be moved. No Richmond County State Court judges have recused themselves from hearing the case, Sanders said.
With the Prosecuting Attorneys Council, which helps prosecutors across the state, Burford has assisted district attorneys in death penalty cases and prosecuted a Georgia judge accused of election fraud, according to news reports. His office could not be reached for comment Friday.
Mason is serving his second term as commissioner and has previously reported he has considered a run for mayor.
He is scheduled to be arraigned March 29.
Cuzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz/ The Kid,
What do you make of this?
Well at least he has a good lawyer....Hi Freddie...long time-no see...I can still see ya in that cute little mustang...:)
Seems like a lot of money being spent to me. Whatever happened to the time when the cop went to the door, asked the lady if she were okay, said y'all cut that out and went on his way? Now we've got special prosecutors being flown in from Harvard Law School or somewhere, lawyers making statements and the newspaper running stories like Mason is up for the death penalty.
This story broke like lightning and I, like some, got judgemental pretty quick. I based it on the fact that the alledged victim perceived a situation occurred involving her spouse putting his hands on her in such a way that a call to 911 was warranted. If this is not accurate then I blame misinformation being made public. But I believe that's what occurred.
Going forward, I speculate she will expound that the call was made by her in a hysterical state and her explanation of what happened was not comprehensive. After the incident is put into clearer context, the judge will find that there was no criminality in the defendant's actions.
Well, so much for not being prematurely judgemental. But that's how i sees it.
something i'm sure to cost the taxpayers money....they will find a way to stick it to us no matter what...
DavidP, after reading your thorough analysis, I still say, "Y'all cut that out," would have been a better way.
agreed. in hindsight, a much better means to the same end.
"Y'all cut that out" ... really? And if this were a much worse case and a few years down the road the wife decided she couldn't take anymore because he never "cut that out" and took matters into her own hands, what would you say then? There is a reason a hard stance is taken on family violence. Personally, I believe a much harder stance should be taken.
if a crime occurred then yes indeedly doodly. but innocent until proven guilty applies to all, Mason included.
It sounds more like typical family dysfunction stepped up a notch or two. I would say the interest in it is purely politically motivated.
Abbynoll, the thing is the police officer would have made sure no one was hurt and told them to stop the fighting. That's not allowing wife abuse for many years. In the circumstance I proposed the wife would have felt very comfortable calling the police again if there were a problem. Give the officer some credit. It's an example of community policing when you empower the officer this way.
"That's not allowing wife abuse for many years." How do we know that? How do we know this was the first or will be the last time? The LEO has to make a decision then, and right then, based on what he observes. If he felt the warrant was necessary, then there had to be ample probable cause. I have not seen her injuries, but the charge of battery means there was "substantial physical injury" to the victim. "Substantial" is the only difference between Simple Battery and Battery. So, there was obviously some sort of evidence to justify a warrant being issued in this case. Clearly, none of us know precisely what happened but based on the charge I'd have to say this is more than a shoving match or hair pulling.
If the rumors are true, then she will clarify that she didn't realize in the hysteria, that Mr. Mason was trying to seperate her and another individual who were fighting or about to throw down. She will now explain that he had his hands on her and caused injury but it wasn't done with intent. It was a consequence of his attempt to stop them from hurting each other. again, rumor but I might take a bet that will be the long and short of it.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
