Nyesha Gibson Appeals Brookhaven Alcohol Permit Denial Citing Rehabilitation After DUI Convictions

City attorney Chris Balch opened a hearing of the Brookhaven Alcohol Board to hear an appeal by applicant Nyesha Gibson after the police department denied her boarding/pouring permit application.

Major Donald Chase of the Brookhaven Police Department told the board a background check disclosed two DUI-related arrests and convictions tied to Gibson: an arrest on Sept. 29, 2013, with a guilty finding on April 21, 2014, and a second arrest on June 23, 2014, with a guilty conviction on May 26, 2015. "The city ordinance states that any person that has a DUI conviction within 5 years of the date of the application would be denied," Major Chase said, and he told the board the department denied the application on that basis.

Gibson, who said she applied for the permit on April 13 and has worked as a server near Brookhaven Center since December, acknowledged the convictions and described completing required probation and DUI school. "I am here today to set my name clear and try to ask for that second opportunity," she told the board, saying she has no recent incidents and wants to provide for younger siblings and a sick mother.

Board members questioned Gibson about her residence (she said West Midtown), prior work (servers on Peachtree), current probation status (she said she is not on probation), and documentation of completion of programs (she said she completed DUI school two years ago but did not bring paperwork). A board member asked whether she had an employer letter to support her application; Gibson said she had not brought one.

After hearing the police presentation and Gibson’s statement, the board asked the room to step out so members could deliberate. No vote or final ruling was recorded on the transcript.

The next on-record step is the board’s formal decision, which the chair may announce after private deliberation or at a subsequent meeting.