RUMFORD - The leader of a referendum campaign to develop a casino in Oxford County has stepped down, citing unspecified legal matters that he said could become a distraction.

Seth Carey of Rumford also said he has resigned as president of Evergreen Mountain Enterprises, the corporation he founded to own and operate the casino if it wins voter approval in November.

Carey's resignation was reported by the Sun Journal in Lewiston, which said it learned Thursday that Carey had been issued a summons for assault for an incident in early March. Carey is also the subject of an ethics complaint under review by the Maine Overseers of the Bar.

Casino campaign spokeswoman Pat LaMarche says the campaign will continue under new leadership.