AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - A trial has begun against a former Augusta fire marshal accused of accepting bribes to not enforce fire safety measures at a nightclub.
Media outlets report that Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Clark told a federal court jury Monday that the FBI has recorded Fire Marshall Jason Beard accepting payments during visits to Level 9 Bar and Grill in Augusta from June 2014 through January 2015.
Defense attorney Jack Long says the money was legitimate payment for Beard’s overseeing of the fire safety code.
Beard, a 30-year veteran of the fire department, was fired in October. He has pleaded not guilty to six counts of extortion and one count of attempted extortion.
Federal authorities say they began investigating after receiving a tip that a club manager was paying $150 monthly to Beard so no one would enforce the club’s occupancy limit.
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