Former South Fulton mayor Khalid Kamau pleads guilty to misdemeanor trespass, avoids felony charge

ATLANTA  — Former South Fulton Mayor Khalid Kamau pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor criminal trespass charge in connection with a 2023 incident in which he entered a private lake house without permission, avoiding a felony burglary charge that had been filed against him.

In Fulton County Superior Court, Kamau was sentenced to 12 months of probation, 80 hours of community service and ordered to write a one-page apology to the homeowner, according to court filings. Probation conditions also bar him from social media and require that he avoid contact with the property owner.

Prosecutors initially charged Kamau with first-degree burglary and criminal trespass following his July 2023 arrest after a homeowner reported finding him inside the residence. The burglary charge was later dropped.

Kamau, who served as mayor from 2021 until his defeat in the November 2025 election, has said he believed the property was abandoned and intended to purchase it.

The plea was entered under Georgia’s First Offender Act, which allows some first-time offenders to avoid a conviction if they successfully complete probation.

Kamau drew national attention during his tenure as one of the country’s first elected Black Lives Matter organizers. His administration also faced scrutiny over city spending flagged in an independent audit.