COLUMBUS, N.C. -- Polk County Sheriff Chris Abril has stepped down from his position.

Abril is scheduled to stand trial on Monday morning on charges of statutory rape and sexual offense.

The North Carolina Bureau of Investigations began looking into rape claims made against Abril in March of 2006. Abril is accused of having sexual contact with two girls, 10 and 12, in the late '80s while serving as the police chief of Columbus.

Five months after the investigation began, Abril was arrested but denied the allegations.

Despite the charges, Abril was elected sheriff in November 2006 and sworn in a month afterward.

In a letter released this week, Abril said, "The ongoing negative and controversial social climate surrounding my service as sheriff have had a profound impact on my family, the employees of the Polk County Sheriff's Office and our community."

He met dozens of his supporters at the Mill Spring Fire Department on Friday to thank them.

"I feel great just to be supported by my people," Abril said.

His supporters said he's a good man and that the accusations against him are politically motivated.

"I think he's an honest man. He treats everybody alike. He's fair and good with kids," said supporter Mack Henson.

"More than anything, the injustice of it," said supporter Barbara Dembsey. She said Polk County won't be the same without Abril being sheriff.

"You can't know him and not love him, he's just a wonderful person," said Dembsey.

Abril's service as sheriff will officially end at midnight on Nov. 16. His trial is set to begin on Monday in Haywood County.

Many of his supporters said they will attend the trial, which will be held in Waynesville, N.C.