Lowell Fire Chief Shannon Witherell stepped down from his position last Thursday and was in court on Friday, Dec. 15, for arraignment on three counts of criminal sexual conduct.
Previously, Witherell was placed on paid leave after he was charged with one count of domestic violence, a misdemeanor, on Nov. 17. The new charges are all felonies and include two counts of 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of 4th degree criminal sexual conduct.
According to court records, the alleged offense occurred in November 2012 and involved a person younger than age 13. A probable cause conference has been scheduled for next week.
A spokesperson for the Lowell Area Fire and Emergency Services Authority issued the following statement:
Shannon Witherell resigned as chief without explanation on Thursday evening. We were shocked by the charges brought against him on Friday and will cooperate fully with legal authorities. To the best of our knowledge, these alleged incidents did not take place at the fire station or when he was on duty. Our hearts are with all those who have been hurt by this.
The authority has named Corwin Velzen interim chief, and he will lead day-to-day operations of the department. We remain focused on protecting and serving our entire community with a commitment to performance excellence.
Editor’s Note: After the probable cause hearing on the felony charges, that case was closed. The misdemeanor charge is still being addressed in the court system.
Leave a Reply