Warrant rescinded for County Council aide

Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007

Warrant rescinded for County Council aide

State’s attorney still considering whether to prosecute employee

by Daniel Valentine | Staff Writer

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A warrant for the arrest of an aide to Prince George’s County Council chairwoman Camille Exum was rescinded last week after lawyers explained their client had an emergency that prevented him from being in court.

Corey Coleman, 35, was scheduled to appear in court earlier this month to address a complaint that he allegedly stole $15,000 from the Keys to Life Foundation, a nonprofit group that teaches computer literacy to children. When he failed to appear, a bench warrant was issued.

The warrant was rescinded Oct. 25 after Coleman’s lawyers showed he had to attend an emergency hearing in Ohio that day regarding a family member.

Coleman has worked in Exum’s office handling constituent service since 2002 and is currently on administrative leave without pay. He could not be reached for comment.

The alleged theft was reported by foundation official Joseph Cannady, who wrote in a complaint to the District Court commissioner that Coleman used the foundation’s checkbook to write fraudulent checks ‘‘to people that the foundation had no business dealing with.”

Coleman allegedly admitted to Cannady that he owed the money to the foundation when confronted in July but did not return the foundation’s checkbook. The account has since been closed, Cannady wrote in the complaint.

Under Maryland law, the victim of a crime can file a complaint with the District Court commissioner. A hearing is then scheduled, where a representative from the state’s attorney’s office is present. The state’s attorney’s office decides whether to prosecute.

‘‘We’re taking a look and we’ll make a decision in the very near future [how to proceed],” said State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey.

Staff for Exum (D-Dist. 7) of Capitol Heights referred calls to Karen Campbell, spokeswoman for the County Council. Campbell said she could not discuss personnel issues.

Since Coleman was absent, a new date for the hearing is being rescheduled.

According to the organization’s Web site, Keys to Life was started in 2003 to offer education and mentorship opportunities by introducing children to computers and technology.

Coleman’s lawyer, Bruce A. Johnson Jr. of Bowie, did not return calls left at his office.

E-mail Daniel Valentine at dvalentine@gazette.net.