Dating Defense Doomed; Baltimore Mayor Indicted

Apparently, the dating defense is dead.

Baltimore's popular mayor was indicted today on charges she illegally took gifts from a lobbyist ex-boyfriend, including plane tickets, fur coats and holiday gift items.

Sheila A. Dixon, a Democrat and and the basis for the shrewd and calculating character Naresse Campbell on HBO's "The Wire," was indicted by a grand jury on 12 counts, including four counts of perjury and two counts of theft over $500. She was also charged with theft under $500, fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary and misconduct in office.

The 55-year-old former Baltimore City councilwoman is accused of accepting gifts, including a $2,000 gift certificate at a Baltimore furrier and an airplane ticket, from her then-boyfriend, developer Ronald H. Lipscomb, whom she dated from 2003 to 2004 while he lobbied the city for millions in tax credits for development projects, the Baltimore Sun reported.

"I am being unfairly accused," Dixon said in a statement. "Time will prove that I have done nothing wrong, and I am confident that I will be found innocent of these charges."

Two of Dixon's business associates have already been indicted (Lipscomb has not been charged in connection with Dixon, but was indicted earlier this week on one count of bribery involving another Baltimore official, a council member, in the same public corruption probe.). Sun columnist Laura Vozzella noted in today's editions that "even if it was romance and not business, Dixon shouldn't have voted on her lover's projects, however awkward it might have been to announce: "Gotta recuse myself on this one; I'm sleeping with the developer."

Dixon and Lipscomb were both married, but separated from, other people at the time of their relationship. Dixon later divorced.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2009/01/dating_defense_doomed_baltimor.html?wprss=washingtonpostinvestigations