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Civil rights leader charged in embezzlement

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Comments (17)

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

(Updated 4:40 pm)

By Sonja Elmquist
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — A man facing four felony charges in connection with an embezzlement scheme that police say stole $400,000 from the estate of a Greensboro woman is a retired professor who has been a civil rights leader for 40 years.

Claude Barnes, 57, was arrested last week on felony charges of embezzlement, identity theft, conspiracy and obtaining property by false pretense, according to police. He was released on a written promise to appear in court May 15.

Barnes, a one-time N.C. A&T teacher of the year, joined the A&T faculty in 1993. A political science professor, Barnes retired Feb. 28, according to university officials.

Barnes’ involvement in civil rights in Greensboro began when he was a 17-year-old junior at Dudley High School. Barnes initiated a protest that sparked the 1969 “Greensboro Rebellion,” after Dudley’s administration didn’t recognize his write-in victory in the school’s student body president election. The protest escalated into three weeks of violence that included a National Guard mobilization.

He was also a member of the Greensboro Truth and Community Reconciliation Project, which convened a board to study the 1979 shootings in which five people died at an anti-Ku Klux Klan rally.

Barnes received his bachelor’s degree from A&T and his master’s and doctorate from Clark Atlanta University.

Barnes did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Court documents show that Barnes is accused of embezzling about $140,000 in cash from the estate of Betty Irene Burton, a neighbor of Barnes on Wiley Lewis Road. Barnes was the executor of Burton’s estate, according to court documents. Burton died in October at age 76.

Barnes took money from Burton’s estate account, an annuity account, and personal credit cards for his personal use, according to court documents.

Barnes is also accused of conspiring with Koretta King, a live-in nurse who cared for Burton, and Andrea Lee Barksdale, 39, of 2019 Willow Road.

After Burton’s death, police Capt. Janice Rogers said, King used fraudulent signatures to take control of a trust fund and the deed to Burton’s home and property. The home and property are valued about $200,000, county tax records show.

King was charged with two counts of felony conspiracy, one count of obtaining property by false pretense and two counts of identity theft.

Contact Sonja Elmquist at 373-7090 or sonja.elmquist@news-record.com

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gboro84

April 13, 2009 - 7:08 pm EDT

Unbelievable!!! Shame on you News-Record. You know that this is all part of Trudy Wade's scheme! This man is the real victim!

kikablue

April 13, 2009 - 7:38 pm EDT

How come you never commented on the story before? But as soon as the tell that he was a civil right's leader you're all up in arms, now you want to complain.

1Voice

April 15, 2009 - 7:11 am EDT

I must have been out of town on the day that trhey revealed Trudy Wade's scheme. Can someone please tell me what that is and how it pertains to this issue?
I'm just 1 voice in a wilderness of voices.

kikablue

April 13, 2009 - 7:25 pm EDT

Well now doesn't this paint a pretty picture, get ready Greensboro for S- - T to hit the fan.

notoriousBLOG

April 13, 2009 - 7:33 pm EDT

Here we go witch hunting and accusing these good people of bad things. This man has been a civil rights leader, there's just no way that he could have done these things.

Paul J

April 13, 2009 - 10:44 pm EDT

civil rights leader = thief

gboro84

April 14, 2009 - 8:28 am EDT

This man was not mentioned in the previous story, as far as I can remember. How can they even call him a civil rights leader? Kinda like Skipper, right? I champion and value sincere leaders, whether their cause is civil rights or animal activism, but wake up; Greensboro is a hotbed of black and white racists who play the public against each other. If you don't see that, then you probably think everything is ok. Ignorance is bliss.

Henry

April 14, 2009 - 8:30 am EDT

It's going to be a long hot summer.

"When all the facts come out, everyone will see that I am completely innocent. Let's not be so quick to jump to conclusions until all of the evidence has been looked at. Remember that I am innocent until I am guilty"

There, handled the press conference for you.

robbinj2

April 14, 2009 - 9:40 am EDT

Civil Rights Leader....A&T Professor....who cares??? He's a thief people! It doesn't matter what his accomplishments have been in the past. What matters is what he's done now - STOLEN!!!!! Stolen from the dead off all things!! He should be ashamed and anyone who thinks he's completely innocent based on his past accomplishments should be ashamed. The one and only judge will make his ruling - I guarantee that!

gboro84

April 14, 2009 - 1:43 pm EDT

I wouldn't even go so far as to say this crime trumps all of his life's accomplishments. I do believe in forgiveness

KIKA- don't get mad at me, the News and Record is the one who's headline reads "Civil Rights Leader". I still don't understand what exactly he did to help move along the civil rights movement other than causing a raucus. My point is, everytime a person of color who has influence gets in trouble in Greensboro, it's always "they targeted me cuz im brown". It's BS and you know that.

whatnow

April 14, 2009 - 3:33 pm EDT

Exactly! I am waiting to see "Race" being played out here.

grandsonburton

April 15, 2009 - 9:43 am EDT

I hope all of you crooks go to jail. If you disagree with me....look me up.

PrincsT

April 15, 2009 - 6:29 pm EDT

Think, before you go around opening your mouth and allowing your ignorant thoughts to corrupt the universe.... if you are unfamilar with Dr. Claude Barnes then in no way does that take away from the impact he had on the Civil Rights Movement..... it just means that you were unaware.

lightening rod

April 16, 2009 - 10:12 am EDT

I smell a scheme to frame Professor Barnes that reminds me of the tactics used in the 1960s and 1970s against black civil rights leaders, such as the Wilmington 10 and the Charlotte 3, who were accused of crimes they did not commit, locked up, and later exonerated. At the time, federal, state and local authorities cooperated to frame innocent men and disrupt a growing civil right movement. I don't believe the essentials have changed today. Claude Barnes is a person of great integrity. Embezzlement is not what his life is about. Wake up, people! It's time to see where the lies are coming from, and why.

cabrower

April 24, 2009 - 10:48 pm EDT

Dr. Barnes is a wonderful person, a great teacher, and a wonderful mentor. Those who know him know that these accusations are entirely out of character for this man. I understand that these charges have been filed against him but people must understand his story, his background, and his struggle with both Greensboro and the Greensboro Police Department. Ever since he sparked the riots of 1969 the police have been after him. He is a very influential Black man with a lot of power, insight, and pull. And to be completely honest, there are some people that do not like to see certain types of people succeed. Before you judge him do your research and consider things from more than area and/or source. Get to know the man that they are accusing and then maybe you will understand why he was targeted.

SonofBettyandJames

April 28, 2009 - 4:12 pm EDT

To the Greensboro family, I would like to say that in light of Dr. Barnes' past achievements, it grieves me to know that one who was given the Trust of my Father James Burton and my mother Betty Burton.. could have fallen so far in to the pit of greed and dishonor. My mother died Oct.8th,2008. Dr. Barnes used alledged, FORGED documents dated 9/13/08 and notarized by Paula L. Nicholson to deed the title of her house to his ex-wife Inez Hunter. (Check the record) My mother lay on a slab in a mortuary for 5 days, because Dr. barnes claimed that she "spent all of her money and was broke." I drove 14 hours from Fla. to meet Dr. Barnes to go to the funeral home to pay to have her body cremated. Dr. Barnes stood in the enbalming room with me as I viewed my mother's body, wraped in the sheet that they put on her 5 days before. Until some one paid the $975.00, she was not going to be moved. I paid to have my mother's body cremated. Dr. Barnes presented himself to me as a caring friend of my parents... He fooled them, he fooled me... and yes family there is still room on his llist for your name.
"Don't let the struggle be in vain, be ever vigillant."
The point of my response is to not "Praise Ceasar.. but to bury him." the achievements and accomplishments of Dr. Barnes' life... will pale in comparison next to the cowardly, coniving and unthinkable breech of trust he commited against one of the Elder's of the Greensboro Family. However, let none of us judge his future by his past. I'm sure that those among you who are supporters of Dr. Barnes are sadden and shocked as to the allegations he faces, know this...that the ultimate judge of us all will seperate the "wheat from the tare."
As for the Greensboro Police ...(my sister and I are both retired law enforcment officers...) the lead Det. on this case has not responded to my last 20 phone calls....a month ago!!! so I stopped calling .
So Det. Mardis when you get the time....call me. We would concider it a "professional courtesy."