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Judge denies new trial for educator convicted in Atlanta Public School cheating scandal

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Judge denies new trial for educator convicted in Atlanta Public School cheating scandal


ATLANTA — A judge has denied a new trial for one of the educators convicted in the Atlanta Public School cheating scandal.

Sharon Williams was one of multiple individuals convicted of racketeering back in 2015.

Channel 2′s Richard Elliot covered the trial when it went through the Fulton County Courthouse, and he was back in court Friday to see if the judge would allow a new trial for Williams.

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The trial in 2015 lasted eight months, at the time it was the largest and most expensive criminal trial in Georgia’s history.

Friday, Williams asked Judge Jerry Baxter to toss her conviction and grant her a new trial.

The same judge as the original case, he said no.

“I deny your motion for a new trial,” Baxter said.

Now a senior Superior Court judge, Baxter needed no time to deny the former Atlanta Public Schools regional director’s request for a new trial, nearly nine years after reading her previous guilty verdict.

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“Count one, conspiracy to violate the Racketeering Corrupt Influence Organization Act, we the jury find the defendant guilty,” Baxter read.

Channel 2 Action News was in the courtroom as the jury convicted Williams and 10 other co-defendants for engaging in a conspiracy to help students cheat on standardized tests in 2009.

The defendants were accused of doing so to make it look like APS had made huge strides in student education when it had not.

Prosecutors estimated the scheme had hurt thousands of Atlanta elementary school students.

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Andrew Fleischman, Williams’ attorney, tried to convince Baxter that his client did not deserve her RICO conviction.

“Ms. Williams in this case, this was a while back your honor, I know,” Fleischman said. “That sort of a broad law used in that way, well, it’s just not American.”

But prosecutor Kevin Armstrong insisted to the court that she did deserve the conviction for what she did to students and to those she supervised while working for APS.

“Dr. Davis-Williams was actively engaging in the conspiracy and concealing it, absolutely,” Armstrong said.

Back in the court, Baxter denied Williams’ motion for a new trial. She was sentenced in 2015 to 10 years, three to serve.

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Five other co-defendants are also asking for new trials.

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Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Falcons inactives for Week 16 matchup with the New York Giants 

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Atlanta Falcons inactives for Week 16 matchup with the New York Giants 


ATLANTA — After listing outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge as questionable on Friday’s game report, the Falcons made a final decision on the two prior to Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

Both were given the all-clear after working through injuries this week. Carter was listed on the injury report as having a groin injury, while Hodge was listed as having a ribs injury.

Because of Hodge’s active status, the Falcons decided to keep practice squad receiver Dylan Drummond inactive after using a standard practice squad elevation on him Saturday. On the same day, the Falcons signed fellow receiver Chris Blair to the active roster. So, the Falcons have good depth at receiver heading into Michael Penix Jr.’s first career start.

Here is the full list of Falcons’ inactives for Week 16:

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Braves News: Season reviews, Rickey Henderson, hot stove, more

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Braves News: Season reviews, Rickey Henderson, hot stove, more


The offseason continues to move on as the Braves stay quiet for now. Today was the flurry of first base movement, which fortunately didn’t impact the Braves, who have no opening at first base or designated hitter. It is hard not to get antsy watching players move all over the place in the offseason where the Braves opened up a bunch of money to do something but have yet to do anything of note. I do maintain that something (probably multiple things) of note will happen, but it is frustrating to see options dwindle and players move. All of that said, my preference coming into the offseason was signing Ha-Seong Kim, a viable starter, and a viable outfielder. I have begun to suspect that a trade is going to be the pathway to at least one of those holes and Kim is still out there. Time will tell and all we can do is try to remain patient. Plenty of time remains before Spring Training and the season begin.

Braves News

Demetrius reviewed Austin Riley’s rollercoaster of a 2024 season, that featured underperformance, quality production, and injury at various times.

Gaurav took a look at prospect Mitch Farris’ impressive 2024 season, as the 13th round pick of the Braves’ 2023 draft.

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MLB News

Baseball icon and Hall-of-Famer Rickey Henderson died of pneumonia on Saturday at the age of 65.

Cleveland traded first baseman Josh Naylor to the D-Backs for pitcher Slade Cecconi and a competitive balance round B pick.

The Guardians signed Carlos Santana, just after dumping a different first baseman in Naylor to Arizona.

Negotiations between the Dodgers and Teoscar Hernandez do not appear to be moving and the Dodgers are reportedly looking into alternatives.

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The Yankees signed former MVP Paul Goldschmidt to a one year deal worth $12.5 million to fill their hole at first base.



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Man shot, robbed in Atlanta on his way to work says he still has nightmares about it

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Man shot, robbed in Atlanta on his way to work says he still has nightmares about it


FOX 5 Atlanta heard from the man who was shot when robbers took his electric bike and backpack. It happened early Monday morning near Hiawassee Drive in Southwest Atlanta, and police say the suspects haven’t been caught.

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“I have nightmares and stuff like that. I can’t sleep,” Renard Sullivan said.

Sullivan said he is still trying to figure out how to move forward after he was shot and robbed while heading to work.

“All of a sudden, out of nowhere, the car came up behind me just saying, ‘Stop. Give me everything you want,’” Sullivan explained.

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Just before 6 a.m. Monday morning, two masked men in a sedan approached Sullivan and took his electric bike and backpack, according to Atlanta police. Afterward, Sullivan said one of the men shot him in his leg.

“It’s like I looked down, and I got shot. Then, I called 911,” he explained.

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Sullivan said the route he took on Monday was a common way for him to get to work, and he doesn’t know who could be behind this.

“I don’t mess with nobody. I just go and do what I got to do. Work, you know what I’m saying? Do a little work out there at the gas station,” he said.

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Sullivan’s siblings said the electric bike was his main form of transportation. This was also not the first time something like this has happened to him. Sullivan said someone tried to take his e-bike from him a few months ago before his son intervened.

Atlanta police have not yet named any suspects nor have they announced arrests in Sullivan’s case. He said he wants the men who did this behind bars.

“Get them off the street, so they don’t do it to nobody else,” Sullivan said.

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Sullivan’s family has started a GoFundMe campaign to help him get back on his feet.

The Source: FOX 5 Atlanta reporter Kim Leoffler spoke to Renard Sullivan for this article which follows up on a previous FOX 5 Atlanta report.

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