With last week's plea bargains in the Atlanta school cheating case, the legal noose appears to be tightening on Atlanta's former school superintendent.
 
Of the 34 Atlanta Public Schools teachers and administrators indicted in the scandal, 21 have now accepted plea deals from the officer of District Attorney Paul Howard. Among them: Millicent Few, 55, formerly the district's human resources director, who was sentenced to 12 months' probation and must pay $800 restitution. She is considered a key witness against former Superintendent Beverly Hall.
 
Two other notable figures in the cheating scandal also pleaded guilty last week – Christopher Waller, former principal of Parks Middle School, and his top aide, Sandra Ward.
 
WSB legal expert Ron Carlson said he believes Fulton County DA Paul Howard is taking a page from the history books. "This technique was honed by federal prosecutors against mob figures, where the head mobster was done in by the testimony of his hit men," Carlson said.
 
Former Superintendent Beverly Hall, of course, is the target now, accused of orchestrating the cheating scandal for both the acclaim and the bonuses she received for high performance, then working to cover it all up from the media and a blue ribbon investigative panel appointed by then-Governor Sonny Perdue.
 
Might Hall cop a plea? Carlson said, she's less and less likely to get a good deal from DA Paul Howard. Almost certain that Howard will demand jail time for Hall in the event of a guilty plea, Carlson suggested Hall may want to take her chances with a jury.