LEXINGTON – Erin Underwood, who sent nude photos of herself to a high school student, resigned Monday from Lexington Village Council.
In November, Underwood, 43, was issued a $1,000 fine and court costs for her previous plea of no contest to a misdemeanor count of disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile.
In exchange for her plea, the state dismissed a felony count of disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile, as well as another misdemeanor count.
She sent nude photos of herself to a Lexington student while working as a substitute teacher. Underwood has worked in several school districts, including Lexington Local Schools.
In exchange for her plea, the state dismissed a felony count of disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile, as well as another misdemeanor count.
Underwood submitted a brief letter of resignation, addressing it to Mayor Brian White, law director John Studenmund and council.
“It is with absolute regret and great sadness that I am giving my resignation as councilwoman for the Village of Lexington,” she wrote, adding the resignation would be effective immediately.
More:Village Council seeking to remove Erin Underwood from office
More:Substitute teacher fined for sending nude photos to Lexington student
More:Substitute teacher found guilty of sending nude photos to teenager
Underwood was facing an administrative hearing next Monday in which council would have decided if she would lose her seat.
Late last month, Underwood was served with the charges from the village charter for final conviction of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude during a term of office and gross misconduct.
Council voted unanimously to accept Underwood’s resignation.
“I’m glad to see us moving forward and focusing on the work that everybody was elected to do,” Mayor White said.
Council must fill Underwood’s seat within 30 days. Anyone who wants to apply should send a letter of interest and any other relevant information to the village office, 44 W. Main St., Lexington, OH 44904.
The candidate who replaces Underwood will serve through the end of 2021 and will have to seek election in November if interested in keeping the seat for a two-year term, White said. Underwood served on council for five years.
Police were notified of the activity on Dec. 25, 2019, less than a month before the victim became of legal age. Mansfield police handled the investigation to avoid any potential conflict of interest.
In her duties as a Lexington councilwoman, Underwood served on the safety committee.
Council hires police officer
In other business, council voted to hire James Anderson as a full-time police officer. The 2014 Lexington graduate had been a part-time officer for the past year.
“Growing up, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do,” he said. “I thought I would be in the military.”
Anderson will work the 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. shift.
“There’s a lot of different ways to handle certain situations. Not everything is the same,” he said. “I want to be as fair to the public as possible.”
With Anderson’s hire, the police department is back to 11 full-time officers.
“We will become fully staffed when James is hired,” police Chief Brett Pauley said.
Council chose Bob Jarvis and Adam Gongwer to be council president and parliamentarian, respectively, at Monday’s meeting.
“Congratulations, Mr. Jarvis, another hard-fought battle,” White said, joking about having no other nominations for the position.
In his report, White recognized Brinton Brafford, of 530 Cedarwood Drive, for having the best Christmas lights in an online vote of village residents.
“There were a lot of great lights out this year,” White said.
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