ATLANTA — The attorney for an ex-administrator at the center of a university sexual misconduct investigation and a state criminal investigation told Channel 2 Action News that his client is not a pimp, confirming the nature of the allegations lodged against the former sorority advisor.
In an interview with Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Nicole Carr, Adrian Patrick said he began representing Alecia Johnson earlier this month, shortly after her resignation from Fort Valley State University.
That’s where Johnson served as the longtime executive assistant to the university’s president.
"She's not a pimp, and she's not a madam -- none of that," Patrick said on Monday. "She's not guilty. She did not do anything."
The Snellville attorney heard about Johnson's case through mutual acquaintances in their hometown.
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Carr asked Patrick about accusations that Johnson pimped out sorority hopefuls who were in need of funds to join the organization.
“I just think that’s incredulous,” Patrick said. “I mean, I know people want to be in a sorority. I got that part. I just don’t think you’re going to sell your body. Plus, it’s inconsistent with the reputation of Alpha Kappa Alpha.”
He said he would not have advised Johnson to resign from her position, although he understood her intentions of not being a distracting figure on campus amid the criminal investigation.
“As soon as I got on the case, I said that she should not have done it because my position is: You’re innocent in this situation,” Patrick said. “Your resignation will be (turned) to make it seem as if you’re guilty of something.”
Johnson has not been arrested or charged in the ongoing state criminal investigation, but she was identified as a person of interest in the probe when Carr obtained her personnel file through an open records request last week.
Most of the criminal investigation files are sealed and have not been accessed by the media or Johnson’s defense.
“At this point, we’re ready to go forward,” said Patrick. “We just don’t know what to go forward on.”
The allegations and rumors of sexual misconduct, to include prostitution, are tied to Johnson’s affiliation with the Fort Valley State campus chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Johnson is a member of the organization, and served as a graduate advisor for the campus's Alpha Beta chapter.
Patrick said social media rumors are destroying his client’s reputation before any charges have been filed in the case.
“I think what we need to do is look at the original accusation, the accuser or accusers, and question their credibility and then, at that point, we’ll get a better answer in this case,” Patrick said.
Disclaimer: Carr is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. but is not affiliated with a chapter.
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