LAWTON – John O’Brien’s stint as a Comanche County commissioner is officially over.
Without discussion, the Comanche County Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 June 10 to acknowledge that it had received O’Brien’s resignation, which took effect June 4.
O’Brien, who represented District 1 on the board, was suspended from office May 7 after a multicounty grand jury recommended his removal. At the time, O’Brien was facing two felony embezzlement charges and three misdemeanor charges.
The Elgin resident entered a no-contest plea to the embezzlement charges, which were reduced from felonies to misdemeanors, earlier this month as part of a plea deal with prosecutors, Southwest Ledger reported in its June 11 edition. The three misdemeanor charges were dismissed.
Special Judge Christine Galbraith gave O’Brien an 18-month suspended jail sentence, which means his criminal record may be expunged if he finishes the sentence without further trouble, the Ledger reported.
As part of the plea agreement, O’Brien resigned his office and agreed that he would not seek public office for 18 months.
O’Brien’s temporary replacement, Trent Logan, was sworn into office before the commission’s June 3 meeting. He will serve in that role until a new commissioner is chosen in a special election later this summer.
Logan has said he plans to run for the seat in the special election.
The filing period for the District 1 seat runs from June 17-19 in the Comanche County Election Board office, located inside the Comanche County Courthouse. The special primary election is set for Aug. 27, and the general election – if needed – will be Nov. 5.