A Jackson city official is resigning from his post, three weeks after being charged with beating his girlfriend.
Andrew Frounfelker has spent more than a dozen years on the Jackson city council.
But in his resignation letter, Frounfelker says “recent publicity” had become a distraction.
That “recent publicity” is related to his arrest on a felonious assault charge.
Frounfelker allegedly beat his girlfriend so severely, she suffered five fractured bones in her face which required surgery. Last week, a judge decided there is enough evidence to send the case to trial.
In his letter, Frounfelker wrote that he maintains his innocence.
Mayor Derek Dobies says Frounfelker’s resignation is in the best interests of the city. Dobies says the former councilman will now be able to focus on many “private, personal and legal decisions”.
The Jackson city council will now begin the process of temporarily filling Frounfelker’s 5th ward seat. The council will also have to fill vacancies on several other boards and commissions which Frounfelker had previously filled.
