CLEVELAND — Newburgh Heights Mayor Trevor Elkins pleaded guilty Monday on misdemeanor charges related to an investigation of his campaign finances.
As a result of the plea deal, Elkins has also resigned from office.
3News previously reported the following terms of his plea agreement:
- Elkins will avoid jail
- Five years of probation
- He will resign from mayor and pay a $750 fine
- His campaign account will be closed
- He won’t run for any political office in Cuyahoga County for the 2024-28 term
After entering his guilty plea, Judge Joan Synenberg asked Elkins the following question: "As part of your guilty plea, at this time do you tender your resignation as mayor of the city of Newburgh Heights?"
He replied: "Yes, your honor."
Judge Synenberg has set sentencing for Thursday, May 26 at 10:30 a.m.
"I do intend to order a pre-sentence report to best inform me about these circumstances, to learn more about you and to also have an opportunity to review the letters that your attorney has provided to me for consideration in your sentencing," Judge Synenberg said.
The probe into Elkins' activities first became public last April, according to previous reporting from 3News’ Mark Naymik and Phil Trexler. It came amid allegations Elkins had funneled roughly $134,000 from his campaign coffers over a period beginning in 2017.
So what’s next for leadership in Newburgh Heights? Gigi Traore, the Village Council President Pro Tempore, will step in as Newburgh Heights Mayor upon his resignation. She will hold the office until a new mayor is formally elected.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published in a previous story on March 30, 2022.