US mayor who ‘offered meth for sex’ caught in police sting
Richard 'Scott' Silverthorne has been mayor of Fairfax near Washington since 2012
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
A mayor in the eastern US state of Virginia has been arrested in a ‘meth-for-sex’ sting operation, police have said.
Richard Scott Silverthorne, known as Scott, has been mayor of Fairfax near Washington since 2012 and also works as a supply teacher, according to local media.
He was arrested on Thursday after meeting with undercover detectives at a hotel for what was reportedly arranged as a group sexual encounter in exchange for methamphetamine, an illegal stimulant.
After receiving a tip about a possible meth distributor in July, Fairfax County Police said in a statement they began an inquiry and identified a suspect distributing methamphetamine through a website used to arrange for casual sexual encounters between men.
An undercover detective created a profile on the site and police said within days the suspect, who turned out to be Mr Silverthorne, made contact.
“I know he had one other relationship on the website besides us,” Police Captain Jack Harden told reporters on Friday, according to NBC Washington.
The mayor, 50, is said to have arranged to bring methamphetamine and other men to the rendez-vous with the detectives, but was arrested after he gave them the drug.
Mr Silverthorne was re-elected in May for a third term after a tumultuous year in which he lost his job with the National Association of Manufacturers, filed for bankruptcy, lost his home and was diagnosed with cancer, according to The Washington Post.
He announced in November that he'd been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, and according to the newspaper underwent treatment that ended two months before the election.
Detectives also found Silverthorne's suppliers Juan Jose Fernandez, 34, and Caustin Lee McLaughlin, 21, of Maryland, and arrested them.
Mr Fernandez was charged with distribution of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Mr McLaughlin was charged with distribution of methamphetamine, obstruction of justice and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Associated Press.
As detectives arrested Mr McLaughlin, police said he resisted and a detective used his stun gun, but there were no injuries.
All three men were taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. Mr Silverthorne was later released, according to NBC.
Mr Silverthorne’s father, the late Frederick Silverthorne, was mayor of Fairfax in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments