Former South Fulton Mayor Pleads Guilty, Avoids Conviction in Trespassing Case

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Khalid Kamau, the former mayor of South Fulton, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor under Georgia’s First Offender Act, resolving a 2023 incident in which he was held at gunpoint by a homeowner for trespassing on private property.

Kamau was sentenced Wednesday to 12 months of probation, 80 hours of community service, and was ordered to stay off social media during his probation. He must also write a one-page apology to the homeowner and is prohibited from contacting or speaking publicly about them.

The plea allows Kamau, who had no prior felony convictions, to avoid a permanent criminal record if he successfully completes his sentence.

The case stems from July 2023, when Kamau entered a lakefront home on Cascade Palmetto Highway. The homeowner, noticing him inside via surveillance footage, held Kamau at gunpoint until police arrived. Initially charged with first-degree burglary and criminal trespass, the felony charge was dropped in May 2025.

Prosecutors had previously offered Kamau a probation deal, which he declined, opting to take the matter to trial. The misdemeanor resolution under the First Offender Act represents the final chapter in the legal case.

Kamau’s tenure as South Fulton’s mayor, which ended with his 2025 re-election defeat, was marked by high-profile controversies, including clashes with the city council and scrutiny over city spending. However, his guilty plea in this case focuses narrowly on the trespassing incident, allowing him to avoid a permanent criminal record while fulfilling the court’s terms.