Deposition: Pugh Left Detroit Over Sex Scandal Embarrassment

DETROIT (AP) - A former City Council president says he abruptly left Detroit and his job after allegations of sexually related conduct with a high school student surfaced.

Charles Pugh told lawyers in a videotaped deposition played Thursday during his civil trial that he "was embarrassed" knowing that others would find out about the "horrible thing" he had done.

Pugh moved to New York in 2013 and refuses to attend the trial. He has not been charged with a crime.

Pugh served as the teen's mentor when he was 17. Hundreds of text messages were exchanged, including some that were sexually explicit.

A lawsuit says the now-former student was pressured to make a sex video in exchange for money. The Detroit school district also was a defendant, but agreed to a monetary settlement.

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