Twitter @ValerieRowell
Former Columbia County commissioner Scott Dean is seeking a retrial on his conviction for child molestation.
A hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on June 15 before Superior Court Judge James G. Blanchard Jr., where the judge will hear a motion for a new trial.
Dean’s attorney, Pete Theodocion, filed the motion on Feb. 23.
The motion must be filed within 30 days of the conviction, Blanchard said.
If Blanchard denies the motion, Dean can appeal that decision, said Assistant District Attorney Parks White.
A jury convicted Dean, 42, on Dec. 16 of two counts of child molestation. In January, Blanchard sentenced Dean to 20 years in prison, followed by 20 years on probation.
Based on guidelines from the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, Dean won’t be eligible for parole for 18 years.
The jury found Dean guilty of exposing himself to and inappropriately touching his teen daughter, one of five children he and his wife adopted from Guatemala in 2008. The girl claimed he came into her room at night and touched her.
Dean denied the charges when he testified at the trial.
The motion for a new trial is based on assertions that the verdict of the jury contradicted the evidence and that Dean “may be able to present newly discovered evidence showing his innocence,” according to the motion.
Dean served on the Harlem City Council and more than five years as the city’s mayor before winning a seat to the county commission in July 2008.
He won the July 2010 Republican primary in the District 4 commission race despite being accused several weeks earlier of exchanging inappropriate text messages with a married county employee.
Dean then ran unopposed in the November 2010 general election.
He resigned from the commission in February 2011 when he was indicted on the child molestation charges.
What's his status with his wife?
Anyone know what Dean's status is with his wife? I had heard she was going to divorce him. There was interesting testimony in court that mentioned her.
Theodocion's biggest mistake was bringing up the other girl's made-up comments about what Ashley Wright said, allowing Wright to take the stand.
a pattern in CC
We can put them down, put we can't keep them down. Judicial system is a farce. This lawyer is building some reputation.
Dean's wife
Riverman, you heard wrong. Renee and the children are hanging in there as best they can. No divorce is in the works.
Uphill
It's a tough, uphill struggle to get a new trial. The system does not like them.
not in my CC
The CC system seems to like them a lot. Over turned sentences that is. Recent years have seen judges make bone head statements to juries that allow confessed killers to go free. This lawyer should be a judge. He knows more than the local "bench all put together". Appeal with new evidence. Evidence not allowed into records by the judge.
ignorance
Ignorance is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Harlem Girl
Has the daughter whose testimony convicted Dean recanted?
As far as Mrs. Dean, I had heard she was going to divorce him. The testimony in court by Scott Dean said Renee and he were in bed with the girl. I figured maybe Renee was upset with Scott's comments. But, I could be wrong.
Why don't we identify him as
Why don't we identify him as CHILD MOLESTER SCOTT DEAN rather than FORMER commissioner? Lets identify him for who is is, not who he was.
Riverman got it wrong
The only couple in bed with someone else is the Neal lawyer and his wife!
Be careful what you "hear", it is often wrong.
Riverman got it wrong
The only couple in bed with someone else is the Neal lawyer and his wife!
Be careful what you "hear", it is often wrong.
Harlemgirl..
There was lots of talk that his wife was leaving him. Here is why it's important. In response to the daughter's testimony Dean said in court that he and his wife, Renee, took the teenage girl to bed with them to calm her down. After what the court determined, I'd assume the wife would be upset with such a lie involving her in this sordid matter or were there extenuating circumstances such as possibly Renee was asleep?
Of course Dean may have been lying about the whole thing and Renee is hurt tremendously. But if it is true, maybe you believe Dean when he said they only did it to calm her down? We know the court has sentenced him for exposing himself to the girl and touching her sexually. I guess it's possible he could have been in bed with her and not doing any of that or that the wife was sleeping and didn't know what was going on. Is one of those scenarios what you think happened?
Is Everyone Wrong But Dean?
Maybe the jury, judge, DA Ashley Wright, Columbia County Sheriff's Office and DFACS are all wrong. After all, Ben Harbin says Dean is a great guy.
What I think
Riverman, it doesn't matter what I think happened, because it's none of my business, or any one else's.
The Deans are good people who tried to help five children out of a life that was no way to exist. Two of the children turned on them and this tragedy happened.
Anyone who ever met them knows that and wouldn't question guilt or innocence. Gossip and "news" is so often unreliable information.
Done in every case
Dean will not get a new trial!! This paper work is filed in every conviction in superior court.