ATLANTA — Suspended District 113 State Consultant Sharon Henderson has been given 30 days to resolve if she wish to take a plea deal in her ongoing felony case.
Henderson was indicted in December 2025 on two counts of theft of presidency funds and 10 counts of creating false statements. She tried to have these fees dismissed, citing jurisdiction considerations. Nevertheless, a federal choose denied her movement to dismiss and licensed the case as prepared for trial.
On Could 6, the court docket gave Henderson three weeks to find out if she wished to take the case to trial or enter a responsible plea. Two weeks later, Henderson notified the court docket that her former lawyer, Gerald Griggs, had been changed by Paul Kish of Kish Legislation LLC in Atlanta.
Kish then made a movement to increase the deadline of a potential responsible plea for 30 extra days, which was granted by the choose. Henderson will now have till June 27 to find out if she’d wish to enter a responsible plea or take the case to trial.
Up to now, Henderson has insisted her innocence after prosecutors claimed she collected $17,811 in false unemployment advantages through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Henderson reportedly made claims that she was out of labor as an alternative instructor for Henry County Colleges as a result of pandemic. However the U.S. Division of Justice says that Henderson had not labored for Henry County Colleges since 2018, regardless of her submitting certifications to obtain unemployment advantages and accepting stated advantages as lately as 2021.
Two different state representatives, Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain) and Dexter Sharper (D-Valdosta), have additionally been charged with pandemic unemployment fraud-related fees, although their instances are unrelated.
Bennett pleaded responsible and was sentenced to time served, a $1,000 effective and ordered to pay full restitution of $13,940. Sharper additionally pleaded responsible to creating false statements to acquire funds administered by the U.S. Division of Labor and is ready to be sentenced in July. Each have resigned from the Georgia Home of Representatives.
Henderson was suspended by Gov. Brian Kemp in January simply earlier than this yr’s legislative session. She is going to stay suspended till the disposition of her case or till the expiration of her time period, whichever comes first.
Henderson declined a reelection bid for the seat, as an alternative unsuccessfully working for state Senate in District 43. The brand new District 113 consultant will likely be determined between Republican nominee Don Scarbrough or Democratic nominee Karla Daniels Hooper within the November basic election.
