After being arrested for the third time in four months, embattled Columbus City Councilman Pierre Beard is being given 30 days to pay off his fines.
The decision was passed down by a judge on Tuesday afternoon after Beard was taken into custody earlier in the day for not paying what he owed to the court stemming back to a pair of arrests in December. The Ward 4 councilman was arrested on Dec. 1 for a DUI incident in Gordo, Ala. 10 days later, he was apprehended once more on drug charges.
During the latter incident, police were serving a warrant at Beard’s home to Quavis Betts for his alleged connection in an armed robbery at a Waffle House in June 2023. When officers arrived, they found methamphetamine and marijuana inside the home before placing Beard in handcuffs.
While the relationship between Betts and Beard is still unknown, the councilman is accused of letting Betts use a hotel room under his name after the Waffle House robbery.
Beard, no stranger to local law enforcement, was also facing misdemeanor domestic violence charges after a gunshot was fired in his backyard following an argument with his wife in November 2021. The charges were dismissed after the victim did not appear in court in February 2022.
It’s unclear how much Beard owes in fines, but if not paid in full by April 12, he will be taken back into custody. Beard has been serving on the Columbus city council since September 2019 with his current term set to end in 2025.
