Grass Valley City Councilman Facing Child Porn Charges Resigns Days After Swearing-In
GRASS VALLEY (CBS13) — A Grass Valley city councilman has resigned just days after he was sworn in over child pornography charges he is facing.
The accusations came to light last October, a month before former Nevada County Supervisor Terry Lamphier won a seat on the Grass Valley City Council.
Lamphier informed the City Council on Wednesday by email that he was stepping down, news the mayor says they weren't expecting.
"He's very disappointed that he's not going to be able to serve the community in this position that he worked to achieve," Lamphier's attorney Stephen Munkelt said. "There were at least 3 members of the council that had indicated he really shouldn't serve. And the mayor had told him that he would not be given any committee assignments while he was defending himself against the charges."
Munkelt says the decision to step down was because those limitations would prevent him from being effective in serving his community, and because he was threatened online.
He says now that Lamphier has stepped down, the now-former city councilman can focus on the charges he's facing.
The mayor says the city council will discuss how to fill the vacant seat at Tuesday's meeting.