Megan Barry (Getty Images/Courtesy of CRS)
Five weeks after admitting to an extramarital affair with the head of her security detail, NASHVILLE Mayor MEGAN BARRY announced her resignation from office today (3/6). During her initial disclosure of the relationship on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31st, BARRY made assurances that no laws were broken as a result of a two-year personal liaison with NASHVILLE METRO police Sergeant ROB FORREST.
In spite of her claims, BARRY quickly became the subject of three investigations, one of them a criminal inquiry by the TENNESSEE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, the latter of which was spurred by DAVIDSON COUNTY, TN District Attorney GLENN FUNK. At issue were questions about overtime fees incurred by FORREST during his time with BARRY.
According to today’s TENNESSEAN, “The review found, in some instances, there were no events on BARRY’s calendar during hours FORREST earned overtime pay.” This morning BARRY pleaded guilty to felony theft, agreed to reimburse the city $11,000 in unlawful expenses, and was sentenced to three years probation. FORREST also pleaded guilty to property theft today, agreed to reimburse $45,000 of overtime pay, and, like BARRY, was sentenced to three years probation. Both BARRY’s and FORREST’s pleas and sentences were the result of negotiated agreements with the DA’s office.
BARRY was elected NASHVILLE Mayor in 2015; her resignation was set to take effect at 5p (CT), when NASHVILLE Vice Mayor DAVID BRILEY will be sworn in as her successor. FORREST, a 31-year department vet, announced his retirement on JANUARY 31st, the same day BARRY revealed their affair.
This Article Was Originally Posted at www.allaccess.com