Sheriff charged with rape resigns
A Polk County sheriff charged with raping two young girls more than 20 years ago is stepping down as his trial is set to begin.
Sheriff Chris Abril, who denies the allegations, said in a letter last week that the turmoil surrounding the trial, which begins Monday, has taken away too much time from his job and his family.
Abril was elected sheriff in 2006 despite the revelation of the charges in the middle of the race in the small county in the Appalachian foothills.
He faces five counts of first-degree statutory rape and one count of first-degree sexual offense. He is accused of assaulting a 10-year-old girl and a 12-year-old girl when he was in his late 20s.
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