Under fire after reports emerged that he had moved to Nassau County last year, on Thursday, Duval County Sheriff Mike Williams announced he was stepping down from his post.

Williams’ announcement came on Wednesday, hours before the city government was scheduled to announce if he had vacated the position by moving out of the county. Jacksonville’s City Charter holds that officials have to reside in the county.

“After some consideration, I have decided that a court battle over my residency would not be good for our community,” Williams said. “I have decided to retire on June 10.”

Williams, a Republican, served more than 20 years in law enforcement. He was first elected sheriff in 2015 and won a second term in 2019. Williams had announced that he was not running for a third term in next year’s elections.

Before resigning his post Williams maintained that he was allowed to live out of the county due to a 2010 state law, allowing sheriffs to live outside their county. However that law did not impact the city charter.