A former small-town mayor is now facing a growing list of serious criminal charges after authorities say he fled the state and was later captured hundreds of miles away.
Chad-Alan Carr, who was elected mayor of Gettysburg in January 2026 before resigning just weeks later, has been arrested in Palestine following multiple felony warrants tied to alleged child sex crimes.
According to law enforcement, Carr was initially arrested in March 2026, but new accusations surfaced in April from additional alleged victims. The expanded case includes charges such as sexual assault of a minor, filming explicit acts involving a child, and corruption of minors.
Authorities say Carr fled Pennsylvania after the latest warrants were issued.
He was tracked down and arrested by deputies in Anderson County, Texas, on April 8 to 9 while in his home region. Bodycam footage circulating online shows his detention and transfer, confirming the out-of-state arrest. Pennsylvania officials have since confirmed that extradition proceedings are underway to bring him back to face charges.
Multiple regional outlets, including FOX43, KLTV, PennLive, and CBS21, have reported on the case, outlining a timeline that spans more than a decade. Investigators allege the incidents may be connected to long-term grooming behavior, with some claims dating back years before Carr entered public office.
Before his brief tenure as mayor, Carr was also involved in local community efforts, including leadership roles in an LGBTQ Pride organization and participation in community theater. The allegations have now drawn intense scrutiny to those connections as investigators work to determine the full scope of the case.
Officials have not released full details about the number of alleged victims, but confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and expanding.
Carr has not publicly responded to the charges at this time.