Former city councilman Kamal Karriem, who tested positive for cocaine while on probation in 2008, plans to appeal the revocation of his probation before the state Supreme Court, he said Monday.
Karriem, 52, lost an appeal in the state Court of Appeals earlier this month.
His probation was revoked by 16th District Circuit Judge Jim Kitchens after he tested positive for cocaine in November 2008, months after leaving a drug treatment program and shortly after he was shot in a domestic dispute, and failed to make monthly restitution payments.
At that time, Karriem had already served three of his five years” probation for stealing a city cell phone while holding public office as Ward 5 councilman, the post now occupied by his brother, Kabir Karriem.
Kamal Karriem pleaded guilty to the charge in 2005 and was given five years” probation and a 10-year suspended sentence by Kitchens.
“I”ve carried you too far now,” Kitchens told him at the revocation hearing in 2009, according to transcripts, “and I”ve got to do what I said that I was going to do.”
Karriem said Monday that he has already served his required time in prison since his probation was revoked and will not be required to go back.
In his appeal, Karriem claimed he didn”t voluntarily plead guilty to the original charge of embezzlement and that his attorney should have done a better job.
Karriem, who pleaded not guilty when first charged, told Kitchens that he used the cell phone for his own use due to a “misunderstanding,” according to trial transcripts.
He also claims that the medications for his gunshot wound — which included morphine, lidocaine and hydrocortisone — interfered with the drug test, according to court records.
But Karriem, who has been diagnosed and treated for bi-polar disorder, was in violation of his parole even before the drug test, court records show.
In January 2008, he left the drug treatment program early, falsely telling administrators that Kitchens had given him permission to stop attending. He also failed to report to his probation officer.
Karriem, who is currently an assistant pastor at Stephens Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, told Kitchens he did not know he was supposed to report to the officer.
When asked about his brother”s case, Kabir Karriem questioned if his brother could pay for an appeal.
“Are you going to pay for his appeal?” Karriem asked. “Are you going to give him the money?”
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