Former airport executive pleads guilty
By By Suzanne Monk / managing editor
June 12, 2002
The former executive vice president of the Meridian Airport Authority pleaded guilty to embezzlement Tuesday in Lauderdale County Circuit Court.
Circuit Judge Larry Roberts sentenced Mark Cowart to three years in prison. The sentence was suspended, and Cowart will serve a three-year probationary period.
Cowart was the person responsible for collecting money generated by the airport's "honor box" parking fees, and he admitted Tuesday to stealing some of that money. The shortfall was discovered in February 2001.
Initially, the Meridian Airport Authority placed Cowart on probation, required him to seek counseling, reduced his annual salary to $47,500 and ordered him to pay $5,000 in restitution.
Cowart repaid the $5,000 but resigned from his position in March 2001.
The Meridian Airport Authority asked the state auditor's office to investigate shortly afterwards; Lauderdale County District Attorney Bilbo Mitchell recused himself in the case because he is related to Cowart.
State Auditor Phil Bryant's office completed its investigation and forwarded the case to the attorney general's office. Special Assistant Attorney General Scott Leary was placed in charge, and attended Cowart's hearing Tuesday at the Lauderdale County Courthouse.
Cowart's case had been expected to be presented to a grand jury in July, but he chose instead to plead guilty prior to indictment. In his petition to the court, called a "bill of information," Cowart admitted embezzling $750 between December 2000 and February 2001.
In light of this, Leary did not demand restitution. Cowart paid a $500 fine and $246.50 in court costs.
A conviction for embezzlement carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Leary said Cowart's three-year suspended sentence was acceptable because of the amount of money involved and the fact that he is a first-time offender.
Leary said the specifics of the plea agreement were approved by the Meridian Airport Authority before Tuesday's hearing.
