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@ October 20, 2010 9:38 PM Permalink | Comments (0)

(WSB  Radio) — A Gwinnett County commissioner has been indicted by a special-purpose grand jury on three counts including bribery. He requested the services of a bail bonds business and is currently out on bail, awaiting his next court date. Kevin Kenerly, who has denied bail, is the longest serving commissioner on the board, and currently faces two counts of failing to disclose a financial interest in properties up for rezoning and one count of accepting $1 million in bribes from the owner of those properties.

The indictment was unsealed by a judge during a court hearing Wednesday.

The bribery charge accuses Kenerly of accepting or agreeing to accept 20 payments of $50,000 each to convince the county commission to purchase property that would benefit David Jenkins in order to settle a lawsuit.

If convicted Kenerly could face 22 years in prison.

In a statement to the AJC, Kenerly says he is not guilty. Currently out of bail due to the fact that he contacted a bail bonds financing agency to assist him, he is expected to turn himself in to the Gwinnett County jail once arrest warrants have been signed by a judge. The grand jury, which convened in January to investigate questionable land deals by the commission, refused to indict former Gwinnett Commission Chairman Charles Bannister on perjury charges involving another land purchase.

Bannister has since resigned from the commission.  Kenerly is not seeking re-election next month.