Check and mate? Arrest warrants issued for City Stages’ McMillan, Koch
By Wade Kwon
While Birmingham mayor Larry Langford faces his big day in court, it appears another former public servant is facing his own legal trouble.
This week, Jefferson County officials issued arrest warrants for City Stages’ president George McMillan and executive director Denise Koch on bad check charges. McMillan — a former state senator, representative and lieutenant governor — started the annual downtown music festival in 1989.
The event filed for bankruptcy in June, days after its lackluster 21st performance and ending more than $1 million in debt.
The Jefferson County district attorney’s office has been investigating the pair for weeks, after vendors filed complaints. The vendors included a security company and performers, all who received only partial payment.
The misdemeanor charge could mean up to a year in prison or fines, but those served with warrants could make good on money owed.
McMillan released this statement through his attorneys:
Certain persons are attempting to use legal channels outside the federal bankruptcy process in an attempt to redress City Stages checks that were dishonored for insufficient funds. These and other debts of CIty Stages are being addressed in the pending bankruptcy proceedings involving the Birmingham Cultural & Heritage Foundation, Inc., the nonprofit foundation that issued the checks.
To the extent necessary, attorneys for those who signed checks on behalf of the Foundation will respond accordingly to any allegations that may be made outside of the bankruptcy proceedings regarding any dishonored City Stages checks.
Meanwhile, McMillan’s event planning company, McMillan Associates has continued business as usual, producing last weekend’s Fiesta in Linn Park, the 11th annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival in September and this month’s Sloss Fright Furnace.
In fact, the company site still boasts: “To avoid the staleness that threatens every mature brand, we assist City Stages in continually re-inventing itself in terms of the patron’s experience.”
