Bernita Sims
| Bernita Sims | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of High Point, North Carolina | |
|
In office December 3, 2012 – September 10, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Becky Smothers |
| Succeeded by | Bill Bencini |
| High Point City Council member, Ward 1 | |
|
In office December 2003 – December 2012 | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | High Point, NC |
| Alma mater |
University of the District of Columbia University of North Carolina Wilmington |
Bernita Sims was the mayor of High Point, North Carolina. She was elected November 6, 2012 with 33% of the vote. Sims, a Democrat, was the city's first African American mayor.[1] On November 18, 2013, Sims was indicted by a Guilford County grand jury for allegedly writing a worthless $7,000 check. She resigned on September 10, 2014 after pleading guilty to a felony worthless check charge.
Criminal charges and resignation
On November 18, 2013, Sims was indicted by a Guilford County grand jury for allegedly writing a worthless $7,000 check as part of an estate settlement. The bill of indictment said Sims “unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did draw, make, utter or issue and deliver to [Annie Ponce]” a check from a First Bank account in High Point that Sims “knew at the time … did not have sufficient funds on deposit with the bank with which to pay the check.” On November 19, 2013, Sims turned herself in at the High Point magistrate’s office. She was later released by the magistrate on a $10,000 unsecured bond.[2]
On September 10, 2014 Mayor Bernita Sims pleaded guilty to a felony worthless check charge and resigned as mayor. She was sentenced to a four to 14 month suspended sentence and five years probation and was fined $500. According to her attorney, Sims had already made a $7,000 restitution payment. Mayor Pro Tem Jim Davis assumed Sims's duties as mayor for the remainder of her term.[3] On November 4, 2014, Bill Bencini was elected as her successor.[4]
References
- ↑ Kimbrough, Pat (2012-12-31). "Local elections bring historic result". The High Point Enterprise.
- ↑ McLaughlin, Nancy. "High Point Mayor Bernita Sims mum on Monday's indictment". News & Record. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
- ↑ Choate, Paul. "High Point Mayor Bernita Sims resigns,pleads guilty to felony". Fox 8. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ↑ Dominguez, Joe. "Fox8 speaks with High Point mayor's race winner Bill Bencini". Fox 8. Retrieved 24 December 2014.