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Local NAACP charges racial bias in Clark prosecutionTue, 06/17/2008 - 4:09pm
By: Ben Nelms
While former Fulton County Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS) Assistant Director Cylenthia Clark was in court Monday on charges of first-degree cruelty to children, members of the Fayette County NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) were watching. They didn’t like what they saw. Fayette Branch President John Jones said Tuesday the organization suspects a malicious vendetta and bias against Clark. “Ms. Clark openly admits to spanking her child, but it is apparent that few closely involved with the case view her actions as malicious. As a black woman employed in a supervisory role by DFCS, Ms. Clark’s outspokenness appears to be the sole reason that she is being targeted for what appears to be overzealous prosecution,” the NAACP statement said, citing information apparently provided by court observers at the trial. “While DFCS officials have found no cause to pursue severe punishment of Ms. Clark, Fayetteville Police Chief Heaton, the District Attorney’s office pushed ahead and presiding Judge Edwards reportedly appears to be determined to see to it that Ms. Clark is maliciously punished with serious jail time. “Multiple attempts by Ms. Clark to accept a plea agreement to avoid an expensive and unnecessary trial were rejected and the judge proceeded to press ahead with the trial as of late Monday. “Local NAACP court observers have also witnessed multiple incidences of racial bias in the Fayette County court system and elsewhere,” the emailed statement said. “As the minority population increases, bold measures now appear to be necessary to bring widespread attention to the pervasive racial bias in Fayette County. Every peaceful and lawful method available will be used to try to make sure that justice is equally administered and retaliation is not tolerated.” Some in the courtroom reiterated the sentiments outlined later in the NAACP statement. In his comments to the defense and prosecution Tuesday, Judge Edwards noted in Clark’s statement Monday that her actions were not malicious, a term contained in the original indictment, and as such, the plea agreed to Monday morning by attorneys from both sides prior to the trial could not be entertained. Judge Edwards Tuesday offered an additional perspective on the term “malicious,” one that was acceptable to all. Clark’s guilty plea was then accepted and she was sentenced to 10 years probation, rather than the five to 20 years in prison she might have faced had she been found guilty in the jury trial she requested. login to post comments
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