Chad-Alan Carr, who previously held the office of mayor in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was arrested on Friday amid serious allegations of child sexual abuse and exploitation. His arrest followed a resignation earlier in March, just two months into his mayoral term.
The 48-year-old turned himself in to the Pennsylvania State Police on March 13, facing two felony charges related to the use of a computer for sexually explicit acts involving minors, coupled with a misdemeanor charge for corruption of minors.
Authorities have indicated that, if convicted, Carr could face a cumulative prison sentence of nearly 30 years. His bail was set at $100,000, which he was unable to pay, resulting in his detention at the Adams County Adult Correctional Complex.
A preliminary hearing is slated for March 20. The charges emerged from a report concerning one victim, who was a teenager during the alleged incidents. According to the details released, police received a Childline report on February 24.
It is claimed that Carr exhibited grooming behavior, solicitating photos, and engaged in sexual video chats via Skype with the victim. This relationship reportedly began when the victim was 14 years old, escalating to inappropriate interactions as they grew older.
The victim provided insights during interviews, explaining that Carr had been involved with his high school musicals and that the nature of their interactions changed over time, becoming more personal and inappropriate.
Furthermore, it is alleged that their communications included sexually explicit exchanges. However, authorities confirmed there were no claims of in-person contact. At the time of these interactions, Carr was volunteering at the victim’s school and held a leadership position in the local theater community.
Following his resignation in early March 2026, Carr cited a “personal legal matter” unrelated to his responsibilities as mayor, and he also stepped down from his theater role. He had assumed the mayoral office in January 2026 after serving on the Gettysburg Borough Council, which is now in search of a successor.
