A town has lost its mayor in the course of a week.
The mayor of a town in Texas has resigned after being accused of attempting to seduce a teenage girl for sexual purposes.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Pilot Point Mayor Matthew McIlravy, 42 years old, who was charged with internet solicitation of a juvenile under the age of 14, announced his resignation Thursday before a meeting of the city council. McIlravy was arrested and charged with the crime last week.
According to the site, McIlravy, who is married and has two sons, was taken into custody on Tuesday after the Dallas police department conducted an undercover investigation that lasted for five months.
According to an affidavit for an arrest request that was acquired by KTVT, the mayor, who has only been in office for a few short months, is suspected of attempting to meet and engage in sexual activities with a girl he believed to be 13 years old.
In the wake of McIlravy’s resignation, Pilot Point mayor’s pro-tem will take over as the city’s acting mayor. According to the municipality’s website, which has since deleted his biography, he began a three-year tenure as mayor of the town in Denton County back in May. The town has around 4,000 people.
According to WFAA, McIlravy said in his resignation letter, “To the Pilot Point City Council and City Manager, I am resigning as mayor of Pilot Point effective immediately.”
McIlravy, who had previously served as a member of the Pilot Point City Council, was arrested on Tuesday afternoon and put into the Dallas County jail on the allegation of committing a crime of the second degree.
According to a story in the Morning News, he has been freed after posting a bond. It is not apparent whether he has retained the services of an attorney who could advocate on his behalf.
According to the investigators, McIlravy had “conversations with juveniles” in addition to those who have not yet been recognized.
Britt Lusk, the city manager of Pilot Point, was quoted as saying in a statement that was released on Tuesday night, “The City’s governance is built to be flexible and resilient.”
The town seems to be in good hands despite not having a mayor. Further procedures for having a replacement are unknown.
