Baltimore mayor convicted on 1 gift card charge

[Stinky The Clown]

BALTIMORE — Baltimore's mayor was convicted Tuesday on a single charge she took gift cards intended for the city's poor. Although Sheila Dixon was acquitted of felony theft charges, her misdemeanor conviction could force her from office.

Jurors deliberated more than six days after hearing accusations the Democrat improperly used or kept $630 worth of gift cards. She was accused of soliciting most of the cards from a wealthy developer and buying electronics at Best Buy, clothes at Old Navy and knickknacks at Target.

The jury convicted her on one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary and acquitted her on two counts of felony theft and one count of misconduct in office. Jurors failed to reach a verdict on another count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary.

The conviction carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, but prosecutors have not decided whether they will seek jail time. They also haven't decided whether to seek a retrial on the undecided charge.

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More here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hSstza-DO7dHnBaXIuL3acmuHtDwD9CAMLPG0







The new mayor will be city council president Stephanie Rawlings-Blake







Long, long, long time city councilwoman Mary Pat Clark was so sad on teevee today.






What a sad, ugly, disgusting set of circumstanmces.

[Neecy]

1. Wow.

To throw everything you've worked for away for less than $700 of gift cards...stunning.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. That's what grabbed me about this when it first came up ...... how little money was involved

I like her. This whole thing saddens me.

[Neecy]

3. Do you think she really did it?

I mean, good god - knickknacks at Target? Who risks exposure, humiliation and jail time for worthless Target knickknacks?

[Stinky The Clown]

4. In a word: yes and no

I think she bought baubles with gift cards.

I am less certain she knew where they came from. Her defense never denied she used them. They argued that the gift cards were unmarked as to purpose or origin. There is no documentable direct custodial link between the cards, their donors and her. If this were about a few hundred thousand, I'd be inclined to say she knew and it was theft. but as you say .... for a few hundred bucks? I find that hard to fathom. So did the jury, as they convicted her only of the least charge.

The jury deliberated a loooooong time. They interviewed one juror who seemed to me one who wanted to somehow "send a message" and may have held out for the misdemeanor charge just to be sure a "message" was sent.

Alas, that's all speculation.

[elehhhhna]

7. so if i just find some giftcards i can spend them? huh?

[Rebubula]

5. $700

That is all that she was convicted of....she was accused of a lot more.

Obviously, we have a system that forces the State to prove offenses - but the Mayor was indeed guilty of much more. And I know that because I know all....

[Angry Dragon]

6. How come

congresspeople can take bribes and they stay in office to still take bribes??

Just wondering

[elehhhhna]

8. giftcards, btw, make excellent untraceable vehicles for bribery

[elehhhhna]

9. giftcards, btw, make excellent untraceable vehicles for bribery