Board to hold hearing on Abernathy parole revocation

ATLANTA - The Georgia Parole Board voted Friday to hold a full hearing on whether to revoke the parole of former state Sen. Ralph David Abernathy III. <br> <br> Abernathy remains in the Fulton County jail after being accused last month of violating his parole on a theft conviction. <br> <br> Parole officials say Abernathy fraudulently collected $35,000 from two women with false promises that he could get early prison relief for a friend or relative. <br> <br> He had been out of prison since May 2001. He was convicted of theft and related charges involving false expense vouchers submitted to the state. If his parole is revoked, he could be sent back to prison until January 2004. <br> <br> Parole board spokeswoman Heather Hedrick said the hearing will be before one member of the board who will make a recommendation to the entire board on whether Abernathy violated his parole. <br> <br> The board did not set a date for the final hearing. <br> <br> Abernathy, the son and namesake of a confidant of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has said he is innocent of the charges against him.