UPDATE: GOP state Rep. Henson resigns after cyberstalking plea; Wife says he put her through 'hell'

In an about-face, an embattled state House member from Transylvania County has resigned.

On July 23, Rep. Cody Henson through his attorney had said he intended to serve out his two-year term despite pleading guilty in Transylvania County court that day to cyberstalking his estranged wife. The court proceedings included a statement read by Kelsey Henson saying that her husband had put her "through pure hell" and made her feel "completely powerless and trapped."

But a day later, the two-term Republican has announced he will step down. Henson's District 113 covers Transylvania County and parts of Henderson and Polk counties.

"It is evident that at this time I am needed at home to focus on my two beautiful children," he said in a July 24 Facebook post. "They have been my whole world since they were born. Right now, I believe that what is best for my children is that I focus my attention on them."

Henson said "after much thought, prayer and discussion with my family," he submitted a resignation letter to House officials, effective July 26. 

He had resisted calls from progressives and anti-domestic violence activists for him to resign but said he would not run for re-election in 2020.

Henson's plea deal

His case was prosecuted by the office Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, who took the case after GOP District Attorney Greg Newman recused himself because of his support for Henson's election campaign.

Henson's plea was part of a deal in which he would serve 18 months probation that could be shortened and the charge dismissed if he completed requirements including a domestic violence class, a substance misuse assessment and the temporary surrender of any guns.

Cyberstalking is a Class 2 misdemeanor, falling between the most serious Class A1 and least serious Class 3.

In his statement, he admitted mistakes but also defended some of this actions, saying they were borne out of a desire to save his marriage, but that he had been "overzealous."

"I had no intention of hurting anyone, including my estranged wife," he said.

A judge granted a protective order against Henson in February after determining text messages his wife received amounted to "mental harassment." The order is effective until January. 

Henson also criticized statements from prosecutors and his wife made the day of his plea, saying they "were based on false and unsubstantiated claims by my estranged wife." But he did not say what those statements were, saying he didn't "wish to rehash this any further" and "that matter is settled."

Estranged wife: Marriage was 'a nightmare'

Kelsey Henson, who now goes by the last name Meece, declined to immediately comment on Henson's resignation.

"It's been a crazy couple of days, and I need to get my thoughts together," she said.

In her court statement, Meece, said her marriage, which began in 2014, had been "a nightmare" with "lies, infidelity, manipulation, and the list goes on."

"He was able to insert himself into my life and my head whenever he wanted no matter how much I begged and pleaded for him to stop," she said.

But Meece said she was taking her life back, going from being homeless and six months pregnant with a 2-year-old child to independent and capable. 

"Despite every effort by Cody, his family and the deep-seeded, right-wing brotherhood that controls this county and state; I am still here. I am still fighting. And they are not able to silence me any longer."