Thursday saw a grand jury bring three charges of sexual battery against Austintown Township trustee Steve Kent. He's also charged with tampering with evidence.

The indictment centers on Kent's time as a Poland school resource officer, and claims he committed crimes both on and off duty.
According to the indictment, the alleged crimes happened between April and June of 2021.

As far as Kent's role as trustee, township administrator Mike Dockry said Kent can stay in office and that there are no official means for the trustees to remove another trustee from office for something that happens outside of his or her official capacity as trustee.

Former Austintown Township trustee Ken Carano explained what would have to happen for Kent to lose his seat. He said no one can force Kent to quit - he would have to step down himself.

Otherwise, Carano says the only way an elected trustee loses their position is if they're convicted or they plead guilty; after that, it's most likely the Attorney General's office that would have to sign off on their removal from office, and a replacement would be appointed to fill the rest of their term.

Kent's fellow trustees - Monica Deavers and Bob Santos - essentially told 21 News 'no comment', other than to wait for the legal process to play out.