Conviction Overturned, CEO Burrell Ellis Retakes Reins In DeKalb

DECATUR, GA -- DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis retook the reins of his office Wednesday, days after the state's highest court overturned his convictions on perjury and extortion charges.

This week's developments have been a stunning turnaround for Ellis, who had his suspension lifted Monday. Local media speculated on whether he would even want to return to office.

Ellis is a short-timer, though. His term officially ends on Dec. 31. CEO-elect Mike Thurmond will take over DeKalb's as steward of the county's $1.3 billion budget.

Pictures posted on social media showed Ellis looking buoyant as he walked toward the DeKalb County Government building. And no wonder, Ellis is owed some money, according to local reports.

Speaking to CBS46, Kathie Gannon, a DeKalb County Commissioner, said that the next few weeks will be a time of reconciliation and reflection.

"It's just unfortunate that this travesty took so long to be rectified. You can't undo the damage that was done to the county or to the Ellis family. It's there, but hopefully, these next few weeks will allow us all to have closure and a smooth transition to the new governing authority," she was quoted as saying.

Georgia Supreme Court justices in late November ruled that Ellis is eligible for back pay, which comes to around $212,000, WXIA reports.

After being indicted two years earlier, Ellis was convicted in July 2015 of attempted extortion and perjury and imprisoned for eight months. In late November the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that crucial evidence was withheld from his trial.

Ellis' return to power abruptly ends the tenure of interim CEO Lee May, who was installed by Gov. Nathan Deal on an anti-corruption platform.

DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis returns to his office https://t.co/S5ZC8Ei375 #fox5atl pic.twitter.com/0YSZ6pIvX6
— Travis Maurer (@TravisMFOX5) December" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/TravisMFOX... 14, 2016

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Ellis' legal troubles aren't over just yet. The overturning of his conviction means that the trial will now be sent back to a jury court.

Image via Shutterstock