Briggs
SPENCERVILLE — Phillip Briggs is no longer mayor of Spencerville after submitting his resignation Thursday, according to a released statement from Spencerville Village Council.
Briggs’ resignation comes in the aftermath of his Jan. 30 arrest by the Allen County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of pandering obscenity involving a minor, a second-degree felony. The charge stems from allegations that Briggs, 45, recorded two teenage girls in various stages of undress. Detectives from the sheriff’s office arrested Briggs after interviewing him and the two girls and conducting search warrants at a residence and on a laptop computer.
“Due to the charges alleged against Mayor Phillip Briggs, village council requested his resignation,” the council’s statement read. “Mayor Briggs obliged that request and resigned as mayor for the village of Spencerville as of Thursday.”
Briggs was arraigned Wednesday at Lima Municipal Court, with his bond set at $200,000.
As for who will take Briggs’ place, that responsibility now falls on the village council president.
“Council President Darrell Pugin, per the Ohio Revised Code, has assumed the duties of mayor for the village and will be officially sworn in as mayor of Spencerville at the council meeting to be held Monday, Feb. 6, 2023 at 6 p.m.,” the statement read. “Council would like to ensure the residents of the village of Spencerville that business has continued as expected during this process. Additionally, each and every one of us would like to thank the residents for their support during this transition period as we strive to fulfill our elected duties and serve this community.”
Pugin will fulfill the remainder of Briggs’ mayoral term, which runs through the end of this year.
A preliminary hearing for Briggs will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Lima Municipal Court.
