With two years remaining in his term, Charles Wingate has resigned as a Colorado Springs city councilmember. He said he made the decision to step down about a month ago, and that it has nothing to do with several criminal charges filed against him.

Wingate was sworn into office in April of 2001. Since then, he's been the focus of controversy. He's been accused of downloading porn on his city-owned computer. An investigation failed to pin down the culprit. In 2002, 11 News uncovered several court cases dealing with his finances. Now, Wingate faces both felony and misdemeanor charges. They stem from accusations that he pawned a city-owned laptop computer and misused a city credit card.

Mayor Lionel Rivera says Wingate told him he was going to resign because of his legal issues. Now the City Council is tasked with finding Wingate's replacement. The City Charter requires someone be appointed within the next 30 days. Both Mayor Rivera and Vice Mayor Richard Skorman say they don't yet have anyone in mind.