By Roberto Bustamante
07 Nov 2024, 10:44 AM EST
A Michigan municipal supervisor who resigned from his position after being caught in a child sexual abuse sting operation garnered enough votes to win back his old seat during Tuesday’s election.
Ken Fletcherthe former Delta municipal supervisor, resigned from office in September 2024 after he was accused of having a sexual conversation with a 15-year-old boy on the dating app ‘Grindr’, who was actually an undercover officer.
Despite this, Fletcher had to stay on the ballot by lawand surprisingly won the election unopposed, defeating two independent candidates who entered the race after his resignation on September 3, the same day he was arrested.
After his arrest, police said the conversation between the accused and the alleged minor moved from the app to text messages, where Fletcher expressed his desire to meet the victim at the Lansing Mall to talk, although he never arranged a meeting, according to court documents obtained by WILX 10 News.
Will he be able to hold the position again?
Fletcher, whose name was kept on the ballot due to state election law, is now You have until January 1, 2025 to decide whether to accept or reject the positionaccording to local media.
Delta Township Clerk Mary Clark, who has served as interim supervisor since Fletcher resigned, said the township board will have 45 days to name a new supervisor if Fletcher remains out of office, the Lansing State reported. Journal.
“He can leave office if he’s not sworn in by then, he could be sworn in and resign, and obviously he could be sworn in and stay,” Clark said.
Fletcher’s attorney, Michael Nichols, said his client was “pleasantly surprised” by the election results, adding that he has not thought about politics since his arrest.
Fletcher was charged with molesting a child for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime. Court records show, He pleaded not guilty to both crimes and was released on bail.. His next hearing is scheduled for November 12.
Keep reading:
– Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, allegedly subjected 13 women to unwanted sexual contact.
– Senior Los Angeles police officer is accused of harassment by a subordinate officer.