An Ohio Democrat was sworn in for a second term on the Whitehall City Council on Tuesday, just hours after he was released on his own recognizance following his arrest on multiple child abuse charges.
Gerald Dixon, 64, who has identified as a Democrat since 1980, won reelection in November with nearly 70 percent of the vote for the nonpartisan Whitehall City Council Ward 1 seat.
The ward represents a suburb of Columbus.
Dixon denies the allegations that he sexually abused multiple children.
Local station WBNS-TV showed the jarring sequence: Dixon appearing at his bond hearing, then being sworn into office in council chambers shortly after walking out of jail.
WATCH:
Sexually Abusing at Least Eight Boys
According to the Columbus Dispatch:
“A Whitehall City Council member charged with sexually abusing several boys since the 1990s is denying the charges and has taken his oath of office for another term in council chambers.
“Gerald Dixon was arrested and charged Dec. 8 by Whitehall police, accused of sexually abusing at least eight boys since 1996.
“On Dec. 9, a Franklin County Municipal Court judge released Dixon from the Franklin County jail on his own recognizance as he was deemed not a threat to flee.
“Hours later, Dixon appeared in Whitehall City Council chambers as scheduled to take his oath of office, having been reelected to another four-year term in the Nov. 4 election to represent the city’s 1st Ward.”
Dixon has been charged with felony counts of gross sexual imposition and compelling child prostitution.
Whitehall police said Dixon’s arrest is part of a larger, years-long investigation that began in 2020, even before he was first elected to office.
Detectives said they received assistance from the FBI.
Police: Child Grooming Stretches Back Decades
WCMH-TV reported:
“Police say they have evidence that a Whitehall city councilman spent years and perhaps decades grooming underage victims, leading to his arrest Monday night on felony charges.
“Allegations that Gerald Dixon was grooming boys were brought to police’s attention in late 2020, with an investigation beginning in mid-2023, Chief Mike Crispen said Tuesday morning.”
Police Chief Mike Crispen added:
“The evidence is pretty overwhelming.
“And this started long before he was on council.
“I’m not sure if he was aware that we were looking at him, but certainly we were before he ever became a councilmember.”
Authorities say at least eight victims have come forward.
However, they fear there may be many more victims who have yet to come forward.
Detectives described signs of severe long-term sexual victimization among the individuals who have spoken with police.
Dixon is accused of requesting sexual acts from minors and paying an underage, cognitively impaired victim for sexual activity.
The probe has expanded beyond Ohio into New York and Michigan.
Disturbing Evidence Recovered
Dixon was arrested on Monday around 6 p.m. without incident.
During a search of his property, detectives say they recovered electronic devices containing explicit material, along with written notes and drawings of young boys.
Crispen said the residence resembled a “hoarder house.”
Sworn in Despite Active Felony Charges
Despite the active investigation and felony accusations, Dixon walked directly from jail into City Hall for his scheduled swearing-in ceremony.
The moment has stunned local residents and drawn national scrutiny.
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