A misdemeanor domestic violence charge against a Columbus councilman was dismissed on Tuesday in Lowndes County Justice Court after the alleged victim did not show up to testify.
Pierre Beard, who represents Ward 4, was charged in a Nov. 4 incident at a Byrnes Circle residence where his wife, Lasaundra Beard, told police the councilman had fired a gun in the air and pointed it at her during an argument. The argument started after Lasaundra raised suspicions about whether her husband was having an affair. Councilman Beard told officers the gun accidentally discharged during the argument. No one was injured.
The councilman turned himself in to authorities the next day and spent several hours in jail after first appearing in Municipal Court. The case was later transferred to Justice Court, due to the defendant having a vote in hiring and budgeting decisions related to Municipal Court.
On Tuesday, Justice Court Judge Ron Cooke dismissed the charge after establishing Lasaundra Beard was not there to testify. Councilman Beard’s attorney, Nicole Clinkscales, told the judge the alleged victim had given her a written statement to submit to the court asking that the charges be dropped.
County prosecutor William Starks offered no objection and acknowledged he had seen Lasaundra Beard’s statement asking for dismissal.
After the hearing, Clinkscales told The Dispatch the Beards had experienced something “not uncommon to young couples” that was “exacerbated beyond what it normally would have been” — particularly through media coverage — due to her client serving on the city council. She said the councilman understands his role “to a certain extent” exposes his actions to more public scrutiny.
“But Mr. Beard maintains that this is a family matter,” Clinkscales said. “They are trying to get better as a family.”
As part of his ruling, Cooke assessed a $90 “dropped-charge” fee against Lasaundra Beard. Clinkscales told The Dispatch after the hearing that her client had agreed to pay the fee on his wife’s behalf.
“Mr. Beard will take care of that,” she said.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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