Former DeKalb County Schools Superintendent Devon Horton finds himself entangled with the law once more, following an arrest over the weekend for allegedly assaulting his wife. Horton, who already faced an indictment on federal charges from his time in Illinois, was booked into DeKalb County Jail on Saturday.
Details provided by 11Alive indicate the incident involved Horton allegedly strangling his wife in the presence of their 5-year-old child after she expressed displeasure with his action of slamming a door. The child, having witnessed the event, reportedly told police they saw their father choke their mother, pushing her toward a wall. It is stated that Horton's wife felt faint through the altercation, although no visible injuries were indicated in the warrants.
Horton's legal counsel, Terence Campbell, conveyed a narrative of the situation suggesting that misunderstandings cloud public perception. "Because headlines can be misleading, everyone should know first and foremost that this incident had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with their children and no child was involved in the argument in any way, other than the mere fact that they were at home when it occurred," Campbell said on 11Alive, emphasizing the incident as a domestic issue. According to a statement obtained by FOX 5, the attorney insists that Horton's wife is standing by her husband and does not wish to press charges.
The repercussions of this incident come as Horton had resigned last November from his superintendent role after pleading not guilty to an array of charges which included wire fraud, tax evasion, and embezzlement, related to an alleged kickback scheme in Illinois. Amid the current accusations, DeKalb County Schools has detached itself from Horton's legal troubles, stating their awareness of the incident but clarifying its separation from school district matters. "The DeKalb County School District is aware of the reported arrest of former superintendent Dr. Devon Horton, which stems from an alleged incident not related to the school district. As this is an active legal matter with law enforcement, the district has no further information to share and will not be making additional statements. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority," a district spokesperson told 11Alive.
