Jordan Davis pleads not guilty in nonprofit theft case

Screen shot of Jordan Davis
A February 2015 screen shot from a video of Minneapolis Police Officer Jordan Davis.
Courtesy of the Minneapolis Police Department

Minneapolis Police Officer Jordan Davis has pleaded not guilty to charges he conspired with his father, ex-Community Action of Minneapolis CEO Bill Davis, to steal more than $250,000 in public money distributed to the nonprofit.

Federal prosecutors allege Jordan Davis, who made his first court appearance on Friday, was paid more than $140,000 for work he didn't do. He was released on $25,000 bail. U.S. District Court Judge Tony Leung also agreed to let Davis take a previously scheduled vacation to the Dominican Republic in October.

Leung said he was "not thrilled" about allowing Davis to travel to the Dominican Republican but would grant it because of his ties to the community. Davis is also prohibited from possessing a firearm. Davis has been ordered to turn over his passport once he returns from his trip.

Fred Bruno, Davis' attorney, said his client will not be working as a police officer as he faces the charges but will be on paid administrative leave until the case is resolved.

Bruno said he expects the case will go to trial "because obviously a police officer, any conviction is going to put them out of work. Anything short of a dismissal is probably not going to happen."

Bill Davis is scheduled to make his first appearance in federal court on Monday.

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