LEXINGTON — A Lexington alderman denied Wednesday, at a retrial of several bench trials he claimed he missed last month because he wasn’t properly served, a litany of harassment, stalking and assault accusations three city employees made against him.

In the end, Charles Earl Simmons was found guilty again but only of one charge.

Justice Court Judge Abraham Gates upheld his Aug. 5 guilty verdict on harassment and stalking claims Lexington Deputy Clerk Brenda Powell made against Simmons. But Gates withheld final judgment on allegations of harassment, stalking and simple assault brought by City Clerk Casshondra Pitchford and Public Works Director Timothy Brown. He previously found Simmons guilty in absentia for all of the accusations. 

Simmons will have to pay a fine, but the amount was not immediately available. He was previously ordered to pay $2,675 for the criminal charging affidavits the city workers filed. Gates put Simmons on probation for the remaining affidavits filed by Pitchford and Brown. He said he would dismiss the charges if Simmons put a stop to his behavior at work sites and at city hall. 

“You not knowing the limits of your authority as alderman is getting you in trouble,” Gates told Simmons. “You have to take into consideration how you’re talking to people.”

Simmons contended that city employees retaliated with false accusations because he held them accountable, which he felt was his duty.

“You’ve got employees who are disgruntled at City Hall and make stuff up,” Simmons explained to the court.

Chuck Edwards, Holmes County prosecutor, argued Simmons exceeded his authority by getting involved in the city’s day-to-day operation. He explained aldermen are responsible for policy, not management, according to statute.

“I’m the only alderman who asks questions,” Simmons said. As a result, he felt he was targeted.

The Lexington Board of Aldermen voted in September 2025 to ban Simmons from City Hall — something he argued Wednesday they couldn’t do. The ban was still in effect at the time of the alleged harassment of Powell and Pitchford.

The ban was a response to several complaints Powell filed with Robin McCrory, Lexington’s previous mayor. She testified that before he was elected as alderman, Simmons made lewd remarks about her body and inappropriate sexual advances. Once elected, Powell said, Simmons would silently stare at her in the City Hall foyer. Simmons later bullied Powell over the phone and in-person about work orders, which she had no authority over as the clerk responsible for billing for the city water department.

Powell said complaints to two mayors and the board’s ban hasn’t stopped Simmons’ behavior. He followed her to City Hall on a day when the office was closed. She left a city employee orientation event to retrieve some employees’ paychecks, and was frightened to see Simmons’ car outside the office. She left out a side entrance, she testified. 

Simmons told the court Powell lied. He accused her of being rude to him and retaliating for a complaint he said he filed against her with the former mayor. 

“I don’t know why she figures everything I say and do is about her,” Simmons said

A pattern of bad behavior

Other Lexington city employees described on the stand a pattern of behavior from Simmons that made it harder to do their jobs. They also said they were nervous they might get fired because of his actions.

Pitchford and Powell said they felt scared to be alone at City Hall when Simmons visited. Pitchford said she cut back the bushes and trees in her yard so she could see if Simmons was there. Powell said her doctor prescribed her antianxiety medication after she relayed Simmons’ harassment. She said the doctor noticed her elevated blood pressure.

Pitchford recalled calling the police department in April when Simmons’questioning of her took a threatening turn. She said she feared for her safety and barricaded herself in a back room.

When a police officer asked Simmons to leave, he responded he “wasn’t done yet,” Pitchford testified.

“It just got to a whole new level,” she said. “I had to do something to protect myself.”

Brown, the public works director, testified that Simmons would show up at work sites to record him and his crew. He also accused Simmons of having residents file complaints against him. Simmons would file work orders for “petty” requests such as shutting a gate, Brown testified, to waste his time. Sometimes the requests came well after normal business hours. 

Gates acknowledged Simmons’ behavior with Pitchford and Brown bordered on unlawful conduct.

“He still does what he wants to do,” Pitchford said.

‘I’m trying to save you’

Simmons testified he should be allowed to monitor construction work undertaken by city employees in the ward he represents. He said he was trying to get his point across in the encounter with Pitchford, and argued he should be allowed to question employees of the city he represents. 

“She just doesn’t like me. I make her sick,” he said of Powell’s court testimony.

Simmons also said he respects women; he has four daughters and granddaughters. Gates reminded Powell the clerks are not his daughters.

He called written statements from a city police officer, Mayor Percy Washington and Pitchford “fabrications.” He accused the clerks of being “privileged” and claimed the mayor protects them.

“For some reason, they’re trying to silence me, and I don’t have that much of a voice,” Simmons told the court. “The deck’s stacked against me.”

Gates later admonished Simmons for his behavior, and ordered him to stay away from City Hall and city work sites except for official business as an alderman. If there’s another reported incident of Simmons stalking or harassing someone in the next three months, Gates warned, the charges against him could be revisited.

“I’m trying to save you,” Gates told Simmons. “You are an alderman, you should be there for official business.”