Ohio Democrat Sworn Into City Council Seat Hours After Arrest on Child Sex Abuse Charges [WATCH]

Ohio Democrat Gerald Dixon was sworn in for a second term on the Whitehall City Council on Tuesday, only hours after he was released from custody following his arrest on child sex abuse charges.

Dixon, 64, denies the allegations. He has stated this year that he has been a Democrat since 1980, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Dixon won reelection to the nonpartisan Whitehall City Council Ward 1 seat in November, receiving nearly 70 percent of the vote. Whitehall is a suburb of Columbus.

Update :
WHITEHALL, Ohio — A Whitehall city councilman was arrested and charged Monday after being accused of sexual misconduct with minors, according to police.
Whitehall Chief of Police Mike Crispen announced that Gerald Dixon, a sitting member of the city council, was taken… pic.twitter.com/A2xhRGTk1R

— Qᴀɢɢ.ɴᴇᴡꜱ (@qaggnews) December 9, 2025

Local news outlets, including WBNS-TV, aired video showing Dixon at his bond hearing and later taking his oath of office the same day.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, Dixon was arrested on December 8 and charged with sexually abusing at least eight boys dating back to 1996.

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On December 9, a Franklin County Municipal Court judge ordered Dixon released on his own recognizance, determining he was not a flight risk.

He then appeared in council chambers as scheduled to be sworn in for another four-year term.

Dixon is charged with felony counts of gross sexual imposition and compelling prostitution.

Whitehall police stated that his arrest stemmed from a broader investigation and confirmed he had been under investigation since 2020, before he was first elected to the council.

Within 24 hours, Whitehall City Councilman Gerald Dixon was arrested on felony charges and sworn in for winning re-election in November. https://t.co/pKTGazEJD9 pic.twitter.com/yofn68Lv30

— NBC4 Columbus (@nbc4i) December 10, 2025

The FBI assisted Whitehall police in the case, officials said during a December 9 press conference.

Reporting from WCMH-TV indicated that investigators believe the alleged conduct could span several decades.

Whitehall Police Chief Mike Crispen said the investigation began after allegations surfaced in late 2020, with formal investigative work starting in mid-2023.

“The evidence is pretty overwhelming. And this started long before he was on council,” Crispen said.

“I’m not sure if he was aware that we were looking at him, but certainly we were before he ever became a councilmember.”

Authorities said at least eight victims have come forward and described indicators of sexual victimization, both mental and physical, which led some to delay sharing their full experiences.

Dixon is accused of requesting sexually explicit acts and of paying an underage, cognitively impaired individual to perform sexual acts.

The investigation reportedly expanded into New York and Michigan, leading Whitehall police to seek FBI involvement.

Dixon was taken into custody on Monday around 6 p.m. without incident.

Police said they discovered electronic devices containing explicit material and writings, along with drawings of young boys, during a search.

Detectives described the residence as a “hoarder house,” according to Crispen.

Biographical information listed on the City of Whitehall’s official website notes that Dixon is a lifelong resident of Whitehall and a graduate of Whitehall Yearling High School.

His background includes an acting career in New York and Hollywood. The biography highlights his community involvement, personal hobbies, and affection for Whitehall, where he currently resides.

Dixon remains in office while the criminal case proceeds.

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