Virginia Mayor Arrested in Sex-for-Meth Sting

ByPAUL BLAKE ABCNews logo
Friday, August 5, 2016

The mayor of Fairfax, Virginia, was arrested in a meth-for-sex sting, police said.



Richard "Scott" Silverthorne was arrested Thursday after he provided methamphetamine to undercover detectives at a hotel in nearby Tysons Corner, Virginia, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.



Police were tipped off to a "possible distributor of methamphetamine" who was "allegedly distributing methamphetamine through a website used to arrange for casual sexual encounters between men," the Fairfax County Police Department said in a statement.



Silverthorne was charged with felony distribution of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.



Police also arrested Silverthorne's alleged suppliers, 34-year-old Juan Jose Fernandez and 21-year-old Caustin Lee McLaughlin, both of whom reside in Maryland.



Fernandez was charged with of felony distribution of methamphetamine, felony possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. McLaughlin was charged with felony distribution of methamphetamine, felony obstruction of justice, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.



It was not immediately clear if Silverthorne, Fernandez and McLaughlin had entered a plea.



Silverthorne is currently serving his third term as Fairfax's mayor, according to the city's website. He also works as a substitute teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools.



Chris Cohen, community relations specialist for the city of Fairfax, told ABC News, "We don't have any comment right now. We may issue a statement at an appropriate time."



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