A Newton County man who lied about his past as a convicted sex offender in a bid for a seat on the Board of Elections was indicted by a grand jury Friday in connection with that attempt.

Don Gresham was charged in the grand jury indictment with one felony count of false swearing and one felony count of false statment in filing a notice of candidacy, according to Newton County District Attorney Ken Wynne.

When Gresham filed qualifying paperwork to run for a seat on the Board of Elections last year, he indicated that he had not had a previous felony convicition of "moral turpitude." The retired postal worker was convicted of felony sodomy in 1988 in DeKalb County and served just under 10 months of a one year sentence at Rivers State Prison in Hardwick and was released on May 14, 1989.

Gresham eventually withdrew his candidacy, moments before a special Board of Elections hearing about his qualification.

"The case was intitiated with the filing of a complaint with our office," Wynne said. "It was subsequently investigated by the Secretary of State's office."

The results of that investigation were turned over to the Newton County DA's office.

The grand jury decided on Friday there was enough evidence of the charges to procede with a trial. Gresham is in the process of being notified about the charges against him.

"He'll be given an opportunity to turn himself in and post bond," said Wynne.

 An arraignment date will be set by the Court Clerk's office.