AUSTINTOWN, Ohio - There was an Austintown Township trustee meeting Monday but Trustee Steve Kent did not show up.  

 

While he's remained in office throughout the judicial process he won't be able to legally remain in office much longer.

 

When Austintown Township's meeting began Trustee Steve Kent was absent after being found guilty of a felony tampering with evidence hours earlier. 

 

His empty chair was a welcome sight to many in the township. 

 

"You heard me many months talk about it to just save the face of Austintown," Steve Turlecki said.

 

Over 2,000 people signed a petition for his removal after Kent was indicted. 

 

Many want Kent's nameplate gone, and Kent kicked off the taxpayer payroll and a stop to his health care payments.

 

They say Kent has been an embarrassment and given Austintown a black eye for too long. 

 

"You need to move fast on getting rid of his nameplate, and you can't have a trustee with a felony," Turlecki added.

 

Had Kent shown up after his conviction he would have had to abstain from any votes, and possibly even had to sit in the audience.

 

21 News reached out to the Ohio Secretary of State's and State Attorney General's Office to ask questions.

 

"The moment a felony verdict is issued against a sitting official that official is deemed incompetent for office, and is no longer able to perform any official duties. It is the Mahoning Prosecutor's responsibility to inform the official that they must relinquish all responsibilities," Rob Nichols Press Secretary, for Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, said.

 

"Once any elected official has been convicted of a felony in Ohio they can no longer hold office," Steve Irwin, Press Secretary, for Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said.

 

Township Trustees Monica Deavers and Robert Santos addressed residents about moving  Austintown forward.

 

"We will be in contact with the Mahoning County Prosecutor's Office, the Attorney General's Office, the Ohio Ethics Commission, and the Ohio Secretary of State's Office to ensure the process of removing him is initiated as soon as possible," Trustee Santos said.

 

"We will wait for sentencing and subsequent appeals to make further statements," Trustee Deavers said. 

 

21 News reached out to Kent earlier who had no comment.  

 

Kent was acquitted of 3 criminal charges against him but a jury found him guilty of tampering with evidence.