Former Cobb County commissioner sentenced to five years probation

<p>A former Cobb County commissioner and real estate agent has been sentenced to at least five years' probation after being convicted of stealing money from a Marietta doctor in a real estate deal.</p><p>Judge James Bodiford sentenced Wit B. Carson III, 62, on Thursday to two 10-year sentences of probation to be served concurrently, gave him first offender status and fined him $5,000.</p><p>First-offender status means authorities will expunge Carson's criminal conviction if he does not violate the terms of probation. The probation also could be suspended to five years if Carson complies with conditions of the sentence.</p><p>A Cobb County Superior Court jury convicted Carson of two of the six counts of theft charged in an indictment last year stemming from a real estate deal with Dr. William Saye of Marietta.</p><p>Assistant District Attorney Lynne Voekler had asked for a sentence of 10 years, with two years served in prison and eight years on probation.</p><p>An attorney and friend, Greg Griffin, presented a $25,000 check as restitution.</p><p>Carson served on the County Commission from 1978 to 1982.</p><p>Several people in the courtroom who say Carson owns them money grimaced as he was sentenced to probation. Carson told the judge he was "embarrassed and ashamed."</p><p>A spokeswoman for the Cobb County Sheriff's Department said the department has an active fraud investigation of Carson.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2006/6/121368