People who live in Austintown may have found legal precedent in removing Township Trustee Steve Kent from office.
Matt Stone has more on the criminal sexual battery case against Steven Kent who says he has no plans to give up that seat.

Brenda Rider of Austintown says she and others in the township want Steve Kent removed as trustee. Kent awaits trial for charges of sexual battery while he was a school resource officer at Poland schools. He also faces a civil case in that matter.

Now these Austintown residents say they found a legal precedent in the Ohio Revised Code that allows for people to sign a petition to have someone in office removed for being guilty of "gross immorality."

"Once we get a certain amount of signatures, 2,920 is the minimum we need, to file this complaint with the Court of Common pleas Mahoning County, then a judge will decide in 30 days," said Rider.

If the signatures are valid, a judge could decide to remove Kent. The group says they've done their homework and believe the law is on their side.
A local attorney says he's not so sure.

"It's not unusual for a court to entertain a motion or petition like this, and it's done frequently, but not necessarily while the criminal charges are still pending. You're innocent until proven guilty in this country," said attorney, Matt Mangino.

If you would like to sign the petition there is a copy available at the Washing Well Laundromat located in the Wedgewood Plaza in Austintown. Organizers think it will take 2-3 weeks in order to gather enough signatures to get it finished and sent to the judge.