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DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Former DeKalb County Schools Superintendent Devon Q. Horton was arrested on Saturday, Jan. 17, on cruelty to children and strangulation charges, according to DeKalb County Jail records.
Horton’s arrest comes amidst a separate federal corruption case in an alleged kickbackand embezzlement scheme tied to his tenure as schools chief at the Evanston/Skokie School District 65 in Illinois before being hired as superintendent of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD). Horton resigned from DCSD last October following the 17-count federal indictment. His resignation became effective on Nov. 15, 2025.
DeKalb County Police arrested Horton in Stone Mountain, GA on a warrant charging him with Cruelty to Children in the Third Degree and Aggravated Assault Strangulation. Under Georgia law, attempting to strangle someone is a felony offense carrying significant prison time, if convicted. A 2014 amendment to the state’s aggravated assault statue HB 911 explicitly defines strangulation as a felony in domestic violence cases.
Jail records show Horton was booked into the DeKalb County Jail on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 1:38 p.m. and released shortly after midnight on Sunday, Jan. 18.
DCSD officials stated the arrest charges are unrelated to district.
“The DeKalb County School District is aware of the reported arrest of former superintendent Dr. Devon Horton, which stems from an alleged incident not related to the school district,” the district said in a written statement. “As this is an active legal matter with law enforcement, the district has no further information to share and will not be making additional statements. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority.”