Federal judge grants motion ending suit filed by former Macon cop

A federal judge has granted a motion filed by the city of Macon, ending a lawsuit filed by a former police officer.

John Horton was fired in 2012 after his arrest on an indecent exposure charge that was later dismissed. Horton, an officer with 15 years on the job, then contended that his rights to due process had been violated. He sought reinstatement, back pay and other damages.

Thursday's ruling by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell said facts in the case showed that Horton's rights had not been violated.

Lawyers representing the city filed a motion for summary judgment last year, asking the judge to rule that facts in the case -- that could be proven without a jury trial -- supported the city's position

Horton was arrested in May 2012 after a woman alleged that he had exposed his genitals to a woman at Hair & Nail Salon, 4646 Forsyth Road, on April 30, while his wife was having her hair styled and in the presence of his children. Horton was suspended for five days without pay, pending termination.

He appealed the disciplinary action to an administrative law judge, who instead recommended that he be suspended pending the outcome of the criminal case against him. Mayor Robert Reichert reinstated Horton's termination.

Horton's case was prosecuted by an attorney with the Prosecuting Attorney's Council of Georgia after the Bibb County Solicitor's Office disqualified itself from handling the misdemeanor case.

Court records cite Horton's completion of a psychological exam as part of a pretrial diversion agreement as the reason for dismissal of the criminal case.

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 9:18 PM with the headline "Federal judge grants motion ending suit filed by former Macon cop ."