Adolphus “Dick” Pelley has served on the Athens, Tennessee, City Council for twenty years. He was elected in 2002 and survived a 2022 election that replaced two on the council. He was also a professional counselor at Heal and Hope Counseling Services in Cleveland, Tenn.
While working at Heal and Hope, he demeaned a client and abused her by telling her to grab her breasts, shake them, and exclaim she was a “hot piece of ass.” He also pointed to her vagina and told her not to sleep around. He demeaned her employment, telling her to get a “real job.” He asked her about church attendance and ranted at her when she said she didn’t go to church. The claims were investigated by the the Tennessee Board of Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists and Clinical Pastoral Therapists who revoked his license on October 6, 2023.
In an unrelated matter, a judge accused him of a fraud on the court when 6 of the 17 people listed on a recall petition he submitted were unaware or unsupportive and claimed they did not sign it.
- Chattanooga Free Press: Athens council member’s professional counseling certificate revoked
- Board of Health: Licensure Verification – search for Adolphus Pelley
