Highland Heights Council Member Resigns After Alford Plea
Highland Heights city council member Jesse Hockenbury has resigned following an Alford plea to third-degree sexual abuse. Hockenbury, who was elected in 2024, entered his plea in July after being arrested earlier in the year on sexual abuse charges related…
Cincinnati, OH, September 2, 2026 —
Highland Heights City Council member Jesse Hockenbury has resigned from his position, with his departure becoming effective on October 1. The resignation follows an Alford plea entered by Hockenbury in July to a charge of third-degree sexual abuse.
Hockenbury, who was elected to the council in 2024, had been arrested earlier this year on sexual abuse charges. These charges were reportedly related to a former client.
The announcement of Hockenbury’s resignation was made during the City Council meeting held on September 1. The effective date of his resignation was subsequently confirmed as October 1.
The specifics regarding the resolution of the legal proceedings beyond the Alford plea, including any further court actions or sentencing details, were not provided in the summary. The nature of an Alford plea allows a defendant to plead guilty while maintaining innocence, acknowledging that the prosecution has enough evidence to secure a conviction.
Hockenbury’s term on the Highland Heights City Council began in 2024. Information regarding his contractor status or any other professional affiliations was not detailed in the provided summary.
Story summarized from the original created by Brooke Bihl on linknky.com, see more information here.
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