BAIRDSTOWN – Chris Barringer stepped down from his post as village mayor Monday, following his plea on
two counts of disseminating harmful matter to a juvenile, a misdemeanor, on Friday.
Barringer pleaded no contest and was found guilty of the charges. He had reportedly sent an image of male
genitalia to the cellular phones of two teenage boys early in December. The case drew national media
attention.
According to his attorney, Jim Sharp, Barringer made the decision to step down last week and mailed a
letter announcing the decision to John Rose, president of Bairdstown Village Council, on Friday.
Sharp said that, as a matter of statute, Rose, as council president, will take over as mayor from
Barringer.
Barringer had served as village mayor for 28 years and, Sharp said, was among the youngest mayors in the
state when he was first elected.