When The Court Orders You To Do Community Service, Do It!

Longtime Marietta GA City Councilman, Anthony Calvin Coleman, 56, has been indicted on charges of racketeering and making false statements.

According to the indictment, Coleman is accused of helping Terry Jones Mays, 56, falsify information regarding court ordered community service hours. In September 2012, Mays was charged with DUI, open container of alcohol, hit-and-run, improper lane change, and following too closely. She ultimately plead guilty to reckless driving, and the court sentenced her to complete 100 community service hours as well as fines.

On December 4, 2013, Mays met with her probation officer and was arrested two days later for violating her probation because she only completed 41 community service hours. Allegedly, Coleman found out about this and sent Mays's probation officer a letter from Revered Joseph Comeaux, Pastor of Marietta Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, that stated Mays completed the remaining 59 hours.

If you are convicted of a DUI in Georgia or most lesser offenses, your sentence will include mandatory community service. The number of hours of community service depends on how many DUIs you have been convicted of within the past ten years, along with other factors specific to your case.

A first DUI conviction within ten years carries a minimum sentence of 40 hours of community service. For a second DUI conviction within ten years, you will be sentenced to at least 30 days (240 hours) of community service. A subsequent DUI offense within ten years carries a sentence of at least 30 days of mandatory community service as well.

Traffic offenses and DUI sentences usually involve a community service component. You will want to make sure that you accurately document all of your hours, so you receive credit for them. You should always check with the court to make sure that the judge approves of the community service project. For example, some courts accept community service hours performed at your school or church, but others will not allow these places as an approved non-profit organization.

As Coleman's situation illustrates, the last thing you want to do is create additional problems for yourself by falsifying information.

If you are facing a DUI or traffic charge in Georgia, call our office.  We help people with their traffic tickets throughout Georgia.  Before pleading guilty to a charge, especially a plea that involves probation, speak to an experienced Atlanta Traffic Ticket Lawyer or Georgia Traffic Ticket Lawyer.