Five Attorneys Will Represent I-85 Arson Suspect Pro Bono

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Basil Eleby was charged with setting a fire that led to the collapse of I-85.

Five attorneys have informed the court that they will be representing the homeless man that was charged with setting a fire that led to the collapse of a portion of I-85 in Atlanta.

Basil Eleby was indicted April 7 on charges of arson and criminal damage to property in the first degree. Eleby is being represented by Lawrence Zimmerman, Gerald Griggs, Mawuli Davis, Gary Spencer, and Tiffany Roberts for no charge. All of the attorneys have experience with high-profile cases.

Lawrence Zimmerman is a top criminal lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated with a degree in Political Science from the University of Florida. Zimmerman moved to Atlanta in 1998 and opened his own private practice after working for a local law firm in Marietta for only six months. He is one of the attorneys representing the former Gwinnett County police officer, Scott York, who was charged after he hit two teenagers while driving to another call.

Gerald Griggs is a criminal lawyer with his own practice in Decatur, Georgia. He is the Second Vice President of the Atlanta Chapter of the NAACP and the Chair of the Criminal Justice Committee for the Georgia NAACP. Gerald A. Griggs LLC is a full service law firm that specializes in criminal defense, civil rights litigation, family law and entertainment. Griggs represented clients involved in the Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Trial and helped launch the National Anti-Bullying Movement while representing Jaheem Herrera.

Attorney Mawuli Davis is the co-founder of the Davis Bozeman Law Firm. He leads the firm’s criminal defense and trial divisions. Davis graduated from the United States Naval Academy and Georgia State University’s College of Law. In 2012, Davis was selected as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyer Magazine. He is also a recurring legal guest commentator on truTV’s "In Session."

Gary Spencer is a criminal defense attorney with his own legal practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Spencer has practiced law for over 30 years and served as a public defender for 10 years. Spencer’s areas of practice include criminal law, DUI, personal injury, probate and estate administration, and wills.

Attorney Tiffany Roberts has her own legal practice in Atlanta, Georgia that specializes in criminal defense and civil rights issues. Roberts also serves as the Deputy Director of the National Institute for Teaching Ethics and Professionalism. During her time as a staff attorney at the Office of the Public Defender, Atlanta Judicial Circuit, Roberts represented clients facing felony charges in the Superior Court of Fulton County.

Authorities say Eleby had talked about smoking crack before the fire broke out in an area where the state of Georgia was storing massive spools of plastic and fiberglass conduit under the I-85 bridge.

Eleby is scheduled to appear in court on April 18.