By Sophie Lange, Managing Editor
Former Gettysburg Mayor Chad-Alan Carr was taken into custody by Pennsylvania State Police on Friday, March 13. He has been charged with two felony counts of Photograph/Film/Depict on Computer Sex Act-Child as well as a misdemeanor for corruption of minors after allegedly exchanging inappropriate messages and video calls multiple times with the victim, who was in high school at the time that the crimes were allegedly committed. Carr’s preliminary arraignment was set for 11 a.m. this morning, and he is currently being held at the Adams County Prison. He was unable to post the $100,000 bail and has a preliminary hearing date set for March 20.
Carr resigned from the office of mayor earlier this month on account of what he referred to as a personal matter.
The court documents show that the Gettysburg Station of the Pennsylvania State Police received a ChildLine report on Feb. 24 that alleged that Carr began communication with the victim, now an adult, when the victim was a minor. They met when Carr volunteered with Gettysburg High School’s musicals and worked with the victim at the Gettysburg Community Theatre. The conversations and calls, which were sexual in nature, began when the victim was 16 or 17 between 2011 and 2013.
Carr had allegedly informed his campaign manager about these allegations via phone and admitted to exchanging inappropriate messages with the victim. District Attorney of Adams County Brian Sinnett has stated that he is not aware of any illegal, physical contact with the victim and that other individuals had made reports against Carr of inappropriate conduct, though those did not result in criminal charges. Sinnett was not aware of any criminal charges in other states and claimed that Carr had no previous criminal record prior to the current investigation.
Last week, the Board of Directors at the Gettysburg Community Theatre announced that Carr had resigned as their Executive Director and that an interim director would be appointed. Sinnett does not believe that the theatre is implicated in the alleged crimes.
The Gettysburg Borough leaders formally accepted Carr’s resignation earlier in the week and are expected to review interested candidates to serve as Carr’s replacement later this month.
The Pennsylvania state police said they are continuing to investigate the matter with Carr and asked anyone with information to call the Gettysburg State Police Station at (717) 334-8111 or PSP Tips at (800) 472-8477.
