Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon Resigns with Alford Plea

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon has announced that she will resign, effective February 4. Sheila Dixon entered an Alford plea, in which the defendant admits that sufficient evidence exists which could likely lead to a conviction, but which still claims innocence.

Mayor Sheila Dixon entered the Alford plea for one count of perjury, relating to not disclosing gifts from a real-estate developer with whom the city was doing business, and with whom Sheila Dixon had had a romance.  Sheila Dixon was recently convicted of embezzlement for stealing gift cards meant for disadvantaged residents.