This past Tuesday, Dallas police officers took into custody the mayor of a small town in Texas on felony charges of soliciting a child online, reported authorities.
The mayor of Pilot Point, 42-year-old Matthew McIlravy, was officially charged with solicitation of a child younger than 14, reported police. He was taken into and booked at the Dallas County jail for the second-degree felony charge.
“This ongoing investigation revealed other communications with minors who have not been identified at this time,” tweeted Dallas Police officials.
The authorities stated that the arrest was made with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Task Force, Collin County District Attorney’s office, and the Dallas Police Department’s Drone Unit.
McIlravy, who only managed to get his seat as mayor a month ago, was officially arrested on the 21st of June in the wake of a five-month undercover sting operation carried out by Dallas Police. Authorities did not give out any details about any other alleged talks with children.
#Breaking Sources tell me the mayor of Pilot Point in Denton County has been arrested for online solicitation of a child, a second degree felony. Matt McIlravy was apprehended as a result of an a Dallas Police undercover operation. He was elected in May. He is also a teacher pic.twitter.com/HegbwRvRVq
— J.D. Miles (@jdmiles11) June 21, 2022
The overall investigation was carried out by the Dallas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit, which is the lead agency for the North Texas ICAC Task Force.
Britt Lusk, the City Manager of Pilot Point stated to CBS11 that law enforcement carried out the warrant against McIlravy while he was at City Hall.
McIlravy is a married man and a father of two boys while also working as a design engineer, as stated on his government profile from Pilot Point that has since been taken down as of early Wednesday morning. It also stated that he is a leader of a men’s prayer meeting group and that his wife works as a schoolteacher. His political affiliation is currently unknown.
As seen on the Facebook page for his political campaign, the page boasted of the man’s integrity and hard work ethic.
“He will work for the community members and staff. He has integrity, service, and involvement to the community of Pilot Point,” stated a pledge from his campaign.
Pilot Point has a population of roughly 4,000 and is a city located in Denton County, which is about 55 miles north of Dallas.
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