Nashville mayor to resign after pleading guilty to theft charge

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry (D) said Tuesday she would resign from office after pleading guilty to a felony charge stemming from an affair she carried on with a former police officer assigned to her security detail.

Barry in January admitted to the affair with Sgt. Robert Forrest, though she said she would remain in office. But on Tuesday she reversed herself, agreeing to quit as part of a plea deal that included three years of probation and a fine.

Barry pleaded guilty to a charge of felony theft of more than $10,000.

{mosads}The Nashville district attorney said in court on Tuesday morning that evidence would show Barry’s affair cost the city between $10,000 and $60,000 in unlawful spending. That spending was likely related to travel and overtime costs incurred by Forrest as he guarded Barry on the road.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation opened an inquiry into Barry and Forrest over whether public money had been used to conduct or cover up the affair. The bureau found nude photos of a woman on Forrest’s phone, though they did not say whether the woman in question was Barry. Barry said any photos of her would have been taken without her knowledge or consent.

Forrest was the only security guard traveling with Barry on at least 10 trips she took funded by taxpayer money, according to The Tennessean.

Barry was just 2 1/2 years into her first term as mayor. With her departure, Vice Mayor David Briley will take over as mayor.