Gordon Jenkins, the mayor of Monticello, was arrested on August 14, and charged with various crimes in connection with the controversial demolition of the village courthouse, which was begun back in October 2013.

Jenkins was charged with bribe receiving and three other felony charges and three misdemeanors. James Snowden, the village building inspector, was also arrested and charged with the same offenses.

Jenkins was also charged with intimidating a witness in another case. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charges

The demolition of the courthouse was halted by state agencies, and a total of seven people working on the job were arrested because they were reportedly illegally dumping the debris, which was contaminated with asbestos, on a property owned by the contractor in charge of the demolition.

If convicted of all the charges, Jenkins could end up in prison for more than 10 years.

This is the fourth time Jenkins has been arrested since he became mayor. On the evening before he was arrested, Jenkins pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated. Another drunk driving charge and a charge of resisting arrest were dismissed, and Jenkins is scheduled to be sentenced in October.

In November of last year, Jenkins reportedly turned up at the site of a car accident on Broadway, and a volunteer firefighter suspected that he had been drinking. He reported his suspicion to the Monticello police, and Jenkins was later arrested.

During the arrest process, Jenkins, who was shackled to a wall, unleashed an obscenity-laced tirade, and the video of that scene made national headlines.

He was also arrested for an altercation with a customer at his store on Broadway and for selling counterfeit sneakers in the store.

Jenkins has claimed that he has been targeted for arrests because he is the first black mayor of the village.

The arrests and resulting publicity led to cooperation among the local Democratic, Republican, Independence and Conservative parties in the village, and for the first time ever, all backed the same candidates running for office in March.

The candidates running for village trustee positions, Douglas Solomon and Jill Weyer, easily beat the pro-Jenkins candidates and are now serving on the village board.