SOUTH FULTON, GA — Neither the outgoing mayor of South Fulton Khalid Kamau nor his attorney were in court on time for his final plea hearing Tuesday morning, prompting the judge to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.

But that was recalled, with a bit of chiding from the judge, when they both showed up.

Once everyone was in court, Khalid Kamau chose to reject a new plea offer that would have included twelve months probation and other conditions, opting instead to take his criminal trespassing case to a jury.

The judge set his trial date for February 17, 2026 with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for February 4.

A new South Fulton mayor takes office in January.

Kamau was arrested in 2023 for allegedly trespassing and breaking into a lake house along Cascade Palmetto Highway in Fairburn.

The homeowner called police and he was arrested. He told police the property was his dream home and he wanted to buy it.

Kamau pleaded not guilty in September to the trespassing charge.

The felony burglary charge was dropped earlier in the year.