Texas mayor resigns after arrest for alleged child solicitation

The Mayor of Pilot Point, Texas, Matthew McIlravy, formally resigned on Thursday after he was charged with soliciting sex online from a minor under the age of 14.

He was arrested last Tuesday after a five-month-long undercover operation by Dallas police, which also involved the department's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and help from the U.S. Marshals Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Collin County District Attorney's office.

McIlravy was booked into Dallas County jail and is facing a second-degree felony charge. 

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the mayor, who is also a teacher, tried to meet up and engage in sex acts with a girl he thought was 13 years old. 

The investigation into McIlravy’s soliciting of minors is still ongoing. "This ongoing investigation revealed other communications with minors who have not been identified at this time," Dallas police said in a statement.

McIlravy, 42, is married and is the father of two boys. He took office just a few months ago. He was elected to serve a three-year term in May for the city of less than 4,000 north of Dallas. He had previously served as Pilot Point City Council Member. 

On Friday, City Manager of Pilot Pont Britt Lusk received a letter from McIlravy announcing his immediate resignation. 

“To the Pilot Point City Council and City Manager, I am resigning as mayor of Pilot Point effective immediately,” McIlravy wrote in his resignation letter, WFAA reported.

"The City’s government is designed to be flexible and resilient," Lusk wrote in an email in response to the resignation. "The City will follow applicable state law and the City’s charter to fill any vacancies. In the absence of the Mayor, the City’s charter provides that the Mayor Pro-Tem presides over meetings."

McIlravy was released on bond.