Perry County Commissioner Resigns-Headed To Jail

A Perry County Commissioner is going to jail – a day after he resigned from office.  Lonnie Wood appeared in Perry County Court Wednesday to answer to assault and unlawful restraint charges for restraining, kissing and groping a county employee against her wishes on October 19th, 2010..  Before visiting Judge Bill Joseph of Zanesville Wood entered no contest pleas to both charges.  Judge Joseph sentenced Wood to 60 days in jail for the assault charge – 50 of which was suspended and 30 days in jail on the unlawful restraint charge – 20 of which was suspended. Court officials also say he was fined 1250 dollars and court costs.  The court stated that Wood must report to jail on April 23rd for his 10 day sentence.  Today the Perry County Board of Elections said it received a resignation letter from Wood says he was retiring effective last night.  Wood was recently named in a civil lawsuit along with two other Perry County Commissioners and the County Emergency Management Agency Director.  Wood was accused of improper sexual conducted by a former E-M-A clerk Angel Baughman.  Columbus Attorney Jeffrey Stankunas says he represented all the defendants in the lawsuit filed by Baughman and reached a monetary settlement.  Baughman then dismissed the suit.  As part of a plea deal Wood has agreed to not hold or seek public office for 10 years.