Georgia’s youngest elected mayor has been removed from office barely 10 months after taking the oath, ending the political rise of 23-year-old Jayden Williams amid allegations of improper use of public resources and inappropriate communications with an 18-year-old student.

Williams, who assumed office as mayor of Stockbridge in January, was ousted by the city’s council following a daylong proceeding into allegations surrounding his conduct in office.

The removal followed claims that Williams used city-issued purchasing and fuel cards for expenses that were not related to official duties, as well as allegations involving his use of a city vehicle. Earlier reports said more than $4,000 in transactions were under scrutiny.

Williams had defended the spending, maintaining that some of the transactions resulted from confusion between city-issued and personal cards. He also said he repaid the money involved.

The mayor additionally came under investigation over sexually suggestive communications and explicit images exchanged with an 18-year-old male high school student. Police found no criminal violation, noting that the student was legally an adult under Georgia law, but the circumstances prompted administrative and ethical concerns.

Investigators were particularly concerned about the interaction because the student had connections to a city-affiliated mentorship programme. Williams, however, maintained that the communications took place before he became mayor and that the young man was not part of the city’s “Mayor for a Day” initiative.

The controversy escalated in July when the council restricted Williams’ access to city property, vehicles, purchasing cards and certain administrative functions while an independent investigation was conducted.

After the September hearing, the council voted to remove him from office. Three council members supported the impeachment, while another abstained; Councilwoman LaKeisha Gantt did not participate after a judge determined that she had demonstrated bias against Williams.

Williams’ attorney, Robert Kenner Jr., rejected the council’s findings, arguing that the proceedings were unfair and that some members had already made up their minds about his client.

Williams’ removal brings to an abrupt end a political journey that attracted national attention after he became the youngest mayor ever elected in Stockbridge, a city of about 30,000 people south of Atlanta.

The development was reported by The New York Times, with additional details from local reports and the City of Stockbridge.