1 ex-educator accepts deal in Atlanta schools cheating case

Author: Associated Press
Published:

ATLANTA (AP) – One of the 10 former Atlanta public school educators convicted in a widespread test-cheating conspiracy has accepted a sentencing deal.

On Tuesday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter sentenced former testing coordinator Donald Bullock to five years’ probation, six months of weekends spent in jail, a $5,000 fine, and 1,500 hours of community service. The sentence followed prosecutors’ recommendations.

Bullock also will apologize and waives his right to appeal.

Baxter had delayed sentencing to give everyone time to negotiate. But the nine others didn’t agree to deals and were being sentenced one by one.

The first three without deals to be sentenced – who all held the same position, regional director – were given jail time well beyond prosecutors’ recommendations.

The state recommended five years – with three served in jail and two on probation. But Baxter gave them each 20 years – seven in jail and 13 on probation.

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