Whitehall Police arrested Whitehall City Councilmember Gerald Dixon Monday evening, accusing him of sexual misconduct with a minor.
Dixon, 64, is charged with soliciting prostitution from a minor and gross sexual imposition. Both are felonies.
Franklin County Municipal Judge Eileen Paley released Dixon on his own recognizance, without a cash bond, during a hearing Tuesday. Dixon is to stay away from minors as one of the conditions of his release.
Whitehall Police Chief Mike Crispen told reporters on Tuesday morning Dixon was arrested after a long-term, multi-state investigation involving the FBI. Dixon was arrested between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday after the department got an arrest warrant.
Crispen said Dixon was taken into custody without incident and that he was "calm" but surprised.
Crispen said allegations from a victim first emerged in 2021. He said it is believed there were multiple victims, all juvenile males, from Ohio, Michigan and New York but they were originally local to the Whitehall area.
Crispen said police interviewed eight individuals investigators believe Dixon initiated contact with when they were at least 14 year old. He said Dixon's actions are believed to date back to 1996.
"Numerous individuals disclosed interactions and behaviors that would lead a reasonable person to believe they were being groomed for sexual exploitation. As interviews progressed, individuals often identified others with similar experiences. Ultimately, investigators identified several persons exhibiting signs consistent with both mental and physical sexual victimization," Crispen said.
Crispen said in one case, Dixon allegedly paid an underage and cognitively-impaired individual to perform sexually explicit acts.
Crispen also displayed a poster he said was found in Dixon's home in an office the victims said they were taken into. This poster had photos of young boys on it with derogatory words for gay people over them like "fairy," "buggerer," "sodomite," "fruit," and "****sucker."
Crispen said he didn't know whether the photos were of Dixon's victims. He said this was the type of evidence commonly found in the possession of people who groom youth for sexual acts.
WOSU asked Crispen over email why he would show this poster, without verifying the photos weren't of Dixon's vicitms. Crispen said he believes these are photos are from at least the 1980s and would likely be age 50 at least.
"My answer was I don’t know if they’re victims. That’s what was asked. I explained why I displayed it during the press conference," Crispen said.
Crispen also said investigators seized electronic devices from Dixon that contained explicit materials.
"It's disgusting. We have a problem in our nation with this kind of problem from human trafficking to exploiting children to you name it," Crispen said.
Dixon had just won re-election this November and was supposed to be sworn in on Tuesday. Whitehall City Council President Thomas Potter said if Dixon shows up, he will still be sworn in.
During Dixon's arraignment today, Judge Paley asked the public defender representing Dixon to provide more information on Dixon before setting bond.
The public defender said there were no minors living in the house, and they didn't know who the person is making the allegations. The prosecutor said the FBI was sealing the case.
Paley told Dixon to stay away from the victim and on contact with minors.
"He has no history of not showing up to court?" Paley asked.
The public defender then said, "He's a Whitehall city councilman."
"Oh," Paley said.
"So he's got a good job, he's got no prior record," Paley said.
"He has strong ties to the community. I'm gonna do a recog (recognizance bond)," Paley said. "I have no idea what he's doing, where he is. But he's a public official. I don't have any information with regards to what is going on."
Paley said Dixon's preliminary hearing date is Dec. 23. "Sir, I suggest you show up," Paley said.
Crispen said he didn't think any of Dixon's actions track back to his work on city council, however Crispen said one victim feared Dixon could one day become mayor.
Whitehall Mayor Michael Bivens said his main concern is with the victims in the case. He called on Dixon to step down from city council.
"I believe that it is in the best interest of the victims, I believe it's in the best interest of this community that Gerald Dixon resign his position immediately with Whitehall City Council and face the allegations and get the justice that he deserves," Bivens said.
Bivens said the city is looking at its charter to see if there is any way to remove Dixon from office.
Crispen urged anyone else who may have been harmed by Dixon to come forward. He said people should call the Whitehall Police Department and ask for a detective.
"With Mr. Dixon now in custody, it is safe for these victims to come forward. We also want to emphasize that our priority is the wellbeing of these victims," Crispen said.
