Mayor Quits After Being Jailed In Alcohol Case

SCOTTVILLE (WWJ/AP) - A mayor from western Michigan has resigned after being jailed for violating terms of his sentence for impaired driving.

Scottville Mayor Joe Baxter was arrested Tuesday morning on a bench warrant. He was lodged in the Mason County Jail after his sentence was amended to include seven days in jail. The amended sentence also says Baxter must submit to random preliminary breathalyzer tests, The Ludington Daily News reported.

The Scottville City Commission will take up Baxter's resignation when it meets March 18. In the meantime, Mayor Pro-tem Dick Maki becomes acting mayor of the city of 1,200.

Baxter was originally charged after driving his truck into a ravine Oct. 18, 2012. After pleading no-contest to impaired driving on March 4, Baxter was ordered to pay $1,145, to stay sober, take an alcohol and driving course, and attend a victim impact group.

A no contest plea isn't an admission of guilt, but is treated as such for sentencing purposes.

MORE: Mayor Pleads No Contest To Impaired Driving

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