A Franklin County Municipal Court judge dropped charges against Whitehall City Councilmember Gerald Dixon on Tuesday, although authorities say the investigation into allegations that he sexually abused children for several years will continue.
Dixon, 64, was charged with compelling prostitution and gross sexual imposition.
Dixon's attorney, Mark Collins, said in an email to WOSU that by statute, the municipal case has to be dismissed by the 15th day after an initial appearance. Dixon first appeared in court on Dec. 9.
"That’s what it means to be dismissed for possible future charges. Depending on if a potential future charge is a misdemeanor or felony each has a different time frame in which they have to comply with," Collins wrote.
Dixon was not in court Tuesday.
Whitehall Police Chief Mike Crispen wrote in an email to WOSU that there is evidence to support the charges.
"It’s a common practice in complex cases to dismiss and later present the matter to a grand jury when additional evidence is anticipated. This approach helps consolidate the case into a stronger, more comprehensive indictment," Crispen wrote.
Crispen said Dixon's alleged actions go back to 1996. He said Dixon solicited prostitution from a minor and groomed at least eight victims mentally and physically for sexual exploitation.
Nya Hairston, a spokesperson for the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office, wrote in an email: "Once the investigation is complete, prosecutors will carefully evaluate the evidence and determine the appropriate course of action, as is standard and expected in these cases."
Dixon is accused of sexually abusing multiple underage boys going back to 1996.
On Dec. 23, a majority of Whitehall city councilmembers voted to expel Dixon from council after he won re-election in November. But an unanimous vote of all six members of council apart from Dixon was needed.
Councilmember Larry Morrison voted against expelling Dixon. Morrison said that night: "It's heavily contested one way or another as to whether this action should be taken. The most that I have seen and the protocols I have received is that people feel that this is being rushed."
Dixon said last week he couldn't say anything about the case.
