Haileyville Mayor embezzlement charge

HAILEYVILLE, Okla. (AP) _ Haileyville Mayor Michael James has resigned after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor embezzlement charge as part of an agreement with prosecutors. <br/><br/>A felony charge of

Sunday, December 5th 2004, 3:22 pm

By: News On 6

HAILEYVILLE, Okla. (AP) _ Haileyville Mayor Michael James has resigned after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor embezzlement charge as part of an agreement with prosecutors.

A felony charge of conspiracy to defraud a subdivision of the state was dismissed as part of the agreement and James, 52, was given a one year deferred sentence, officials said.

His resignation was effective Friday afternoon, said District Attorney Chris Wilson.

The two charges were filed in June after allegations arose that James allowed a Haileyville man to receive free city water from June 1, 2003, to March 26 of this year. He was also accused of giving a city-owned trailer to the same man, who was described in a court document as a longtime friend.

James became mayor of Haileyville in April 2003.