By Billy Davis

A sentencing date for David Chandler, the former Panola County administrator, has been set. It is Thursday, February 28 in Aberdeen.

Chandler was set to be sentenced last November in a federal courtroom in Oxford when U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock postponed sentencing after a one-hour hearing.

Aycock sealed the courtroom to allow Kelley Magee, the current administrator, to testify on the witness stand. The courtroom was opened to the public after approximately 40 minutes.

Magee has not said publicly why she was called to testify or described what was said.

Defense attorneys who were present said it was unusual for a sentencing hearing to be sealed.

Chandler pleaded guilty to mail fraud and embezzlement in a plea deal with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
He was a key witness for the federal government in a wide-ranging probe of bribery and embezzlement, but defense attorneys questioned his credibility during a weeklong trial last March. 

Chandler testified at trial that he is facing 21 to 27 months in prison after cooperating with federal prosecutors.