Whitehall City Council vote allows a councilmember facing felony charges to remain in office
Whitehall City Council Vote Keeps Member Facing Felony Charges
Whitehall City Council voted Tuesday night to retain a councilmember facing serious criminal allegations involving minors, after failing to reach a unanimous decision required for removal.
Councilmember Gerald Dixon, who was arrested last week, is charged with felony counts including gross sexual imposition and promoting prostitution, based on allegations that reportedly date back several decades.
Prior to the vote, Dixon addressed council members briefly, stating that he could not comment due to the ongoing legal process and that the matter is now before the justice system.
Under city rules, removing a councilmember requires a unanimous vote. While five council members voted in favor of Dixon’s removal, Councilmember Larry Morrison voted against it, allowing Dixon to remain in office. Morrison stated he believed the effort to remove Dixon was being rushed.
Court records show that within a 24-hour period, Dixon was arrested, his home was searched, and he appeared in court, where he was later released on a recognizance bond. A search warrant indicates that police seized thousands of items from Dixon’s residence, including electronic devices and digital storage media.
Whitehall Police Chief Mike Crispen confirmed that some of the seized materials included a personal journal that investigators say supports parts of the allegations.
After his release, Dixon did not respond to questions from reporters but later posted a statement on his official Facebook page, saying he was shaken by the charges and emphasizing that he intends to defend himself through the legal system.
Despite the pending case, Dixon was sworn in for a second term on the Whitehall City Council shortly after his release from custody.
The case remains under investigation.
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