Burrell Ellis returns to office—briefly
Surrounded by friends, family, media and county officials, DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis returned to office Dec. 14.
During a press conference outside of the Maloof Building in downtown Decatur, Ellis thanked supporters after his conviction was overturned by the Georgia Supreme Court.
Commissioners Jeff Rader, Mereda Davis Johnson and newly-elected Commissioner Gregory Adams were in attendance along with Congressman Hank Johnson.
Ellis said he felt vindicated by the decision of the court, which overturned a guilty verdict of perjury and attempted extortion. He was initially sentenced to 18 months in prison but was released early.
“I just want to tell you all how elated and excited I am to be standing here today,” Ellis said, standing beside his wife. “This is a day that’s an answer to prayer and if anybody who is witnessing this doesn’t believe there’s a God that sits up high and is involved in our daily lives then I don’t know what you’ve been witnessing.”
Ellis, who replaced interim CEO Lee May, said his goal right now is to ensure a smooth transition for CEO-elect Michael Thurmond. Ellis, whose term will end at the beginning of 2017, will pass the reins over to Thurmond.
Ellis said he doesn’t plan to make any changes in personnel during his time in office.
“We are going to make you proud of this county and we’re going to work as a team to get the job done. Why are we here? We’re here to finish the job we started,” Ellis said.
A question that still looms is whether Ellis’ legal team will sue the county for reimbursement of his legal fees. Also, the county’s district attorney will have to decide whether Ellis will be tried again.
Ellis said he could not speak on either matter; however, he did not rule out a run for elected office in the future.
In the court’s decision to overturn, Justice Harold Melton wrote, “We find that the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to enable a rational trier of fact to find Ellis guilty of the two charges upon which he was ultimately convicted – one count of perjury and one count of attempt to commit theft by extortion – beyond a reasonable doubt.”
During Ellis’ trial, the trial court would not allow Ellis’ defense to call vendors to the stand who did not give Ellis campaign contributions and did not report feeling threatened by the county or Ellis.
The Georgia Supreme Court said the trial court committed a “reversible error” and that the evidence should have been admitted because “the state opened the door to the admission of this evidence.”
At the end of the press conference, Ellis returned to his office, accompanied by family and friends.
