MONROE — The chair of the Cadiz Town Board has resigned from his post after pleading no contest last week to charges related to an incident last spring in which he reportedly waived a gun around in the presence of an on-duty utility worker, fired the gun, and prevented the worker from leaving his property.

Kenneth J. Goodman, Jr. pleaded no contest in court Aug. 4 to two counts of disorderly conduct and one count of false imprisonment. Other serious charges — including pointing a firearm at another, and impersonating a peace officer/use of a dangerous weapon — were dismissed but read in for sentencing.

His decision to leave the three-member town board occurred on Wednesday night, said Cadiz Town Board Clerk Karen Signer.

“Right before the meeting was called, he handed in his resignation,” she said. “The remaining two board members and the clerk will appoint a chairman to a new term.”

Goodman received no jail time for his crimes. Instead, he was sentenced by Circuit Judge Faun Phillipson to two years of probation and ordered to pay a nearly $1,000 fine.

The March 31 ordeal began just after 9:30 a.m. when deputies were called to respond to reports of gunfire and threats to a utility worker. 

Police on the scene found a worker from Vanguard Utility, who had been contracted to provide a utility line location. When she first pulled into the property in a marked truck, Goodman was alleged to have fired a gun, and then when she turned to look, she saw a man holding a silver pistol approaching her.

Several Green County deputies responded and eventually took Goodman into custody without incident.

Shortly after, Goodman posted a $2,000 personal recognizance bond and was released.