ABERDEEN, Miss. (AP) A Mississippi mayor is being removed from office after pleading guilty to embezzlement by a public official.
News outlets report Aberdeen Mayor Maurice Howard entered the plea Monday in Monroe County Circuit Court. Howard had been set to go on trial this week.
Circuit Judge John White ordered Howard’s removal from office. White also gave Howard a 10-year suspended sentence, which means Howard will not go to prison.
Howard was indicted on embezzlement charges in October 2019. State Auditor Shad White said at the time that Howard was accused of taking city funds meant to pay for travel expenses for city business. White said Howard was paid in advance for attending meetings or conferences but then didn’t go.