CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Director of the Pickaway County Board of Elections was arrested Friday after being accused of sexually abusing a minor. According to Attorney General Dave Yost, Matthew Nicklas, 41, was arrested Friday morning for allegedly sexually abusing a minor. Nicklas is listed as an active inmate by the Pickaway County Sheriff's Office, who file his charge as rape because the victim was under 13. He is being held without bail. Pickaway's Board of Elections announced via social media that Nicklas had been terminated as of 5 p.m. on Friday due to the arrest, and assured voters the incident will not affect their absentee ballots. "A board meeting was held today and corrective actions taken," the board wrote. "Activities in his personal life have not affected the operations at the Board of Elections. Columbus hookah bar closed by violent crime wave Nicklas' arrest came after the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Circleville Police Department executed a search warrant, with assistance from the Pickaway County Sheriff's Office. Yost's office said the investigation is ongoing. This is not Nicklas' first arrest for sex crimes. In 2006, he was charged with sexual imposition, a 3rd degree misdemeanor, according to Circleville Municipal Court. Court documents show he was found guilty in 2007 and sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years of probation. Just over 10 years after his probation was scheduled to end, Nicklas was sworn in as the director for the Pickaway County Board of Elections, which said he began his term in February 2020. The board assured voters on social media he was hired legally and through proper processes laid out by the state. According to state documents, applicants for the directors of boards of elections must complete and pass a criminal background check. State policy said director candidates will pass if a majority of the board members feel satisfied they have done so. The Secretary of State does not conduct these background checks. Yost said charges will initially be filed in Circleville Municipal Court, although they were not yet listed on the court's website as of 6:30 p.m.