Ex-board President Pleads No Contest To Misconduct

Former Detroit School Board President Otis Mathis has pleaded no contest to charges of misconduct in office over allegations that he fondled himself during a private office meeting with a district employee.

The Wayne County prosecutor's office said Friday that Mathis will be sentenced Oct. 26 in Wayne County Circuit Court.

Defense attorney Odie Uddyback III told The Associated Press the plea deal includes probation for Mathis and no jail time. Uddyback said the plea is "how Mr. Mathis wanted to proceed'' and that a misdemeanor charge of obscene conduct was dropped.

Ex-schools Superintendent Teresa Gueyser filed the complaint against Mathis in June.

Mathis wrote in his June 17 resignation letter that he  "made inappropriate actions toward a professional employee of the board.''

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)