A review panel appointed by the Governor's Office will review the indictment of Warner Robins council member John Williams Thursday at 1 p.m.
According to Russ Willard, spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, the panel could recommend that Williams be suspended from office.
State Law (O.C.G.A 45-5-6) says "public officials can be investigated by a special commission upon indictment."
A Houston County Grand Jury indicted Williams in November on one count of making false statements and writings, a felony.
Willard said Gov. Sonny Perdue last year asked the Attorney General to review the case, before he left office. That's despite the prosecutor's, Craig Fraser, decision not to send a copy of the indictment to the Governor's Office.
Fraser said in November that he did not believe the charge related to the "performance or activities of the office."
Willard called the governor's request "extremely rare."
He said, "After this case was indicted last fall, it came to the attention of Governor Perdue that the district attorney was not going to send this case up for consideration for suspension from office. At that point, Governor Perdue requested that our office get a copy of the indictment and begin the process of suspending the official from office."
The panel will meet Thursday in Atlanta to review the case. They have 14 days to make a recommendation to the Governor's Office.
Willard says Gov. Nathan Deal will make the final decision, based on the commission's recommendation. He said, "If the commission recommends suspension, it will be up to Governor Deal whether or not to suspend. He does have discretion in that matter."
Through an open records request, 13WMAZ obtained a copy of a letter sent to Williams from the Attorney General's Office, Feb. 2, 2011.
Williams later said Wednesday, he had been out of town and had not received the letter.
He said he plans to attend the hearing Thursday with his attorney, Charles Cox.
Williams would not talk about the hearing, but Cox said, "I expect he will not be suspended."
Cox said Georgia law allows for suspension if the indictment relates to the public officials position. He said, "This indictment does not."
Mayor Chuck Shaheen confirmed he knew about the hearing and said, by email, "State Law provides procedures for situations like this, and the procedure should run its course. Councilman Williams works hard every day to try to serve the taxpayers of Warner Robins."
Speaking for council, Mayor Pro-Tem Daron Lee said he wishes the best for the City of Warner Robins and John Williams.
Lee said, "We all have positives we bring to the table. John Williams has positives he does bring to the table."
Lee said he is sure that the hearing will be handled in a "dignified manner" and that the council will "respect the higher authorities decision."