TAYLORTOWN, N.C. — The former mayor of this Moore County town has been cleared of three misdemeanor charges.

Ulysses S.G. Barrett Jr. was charged 13 months ago with fraud, benefiting from a public contract as a public official and holding two public offices simultaneously.

The charges stemmed from his work to refurbish a house the town owns so it could be used for after-school programs. The estimated cost of the work done was more than $29,000.

He was acquitted of the fraud charge Thursday, and the other two charges against him were dismissed.

He still faces an investigation into working as an unlicensed contractor.

Barrett was re-elected to the Town Council last fall but wasn't named to another term as mayor.