The search for former Gettysburg Mayor Chad Carr ended in East Texas after authorities apprehended him on multiple felony warrants involving sexual assault and crimes against children.
Carr, 48, was taken into custody in the city of Palestine by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest was the result of a coordinated multi-agency effort involving the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and Pennsylvania State Police, who tracked Carr after he fled
Carr was booked into the Anderson County Jail and is currently awaiting extradition back to Pennsylvania. The new charges that prompted his flight include two counts of second-degree felony sexual assault, one count of second-degree felony photographing or filming a sex act involving a child and two counts of misdemeanor corruption of minors.
These latest charges stem from three additional victims who came forward in late March, detailing allegations of grooming and assault dating back as far as 2010. Carr had already been facing initial charges from March 13 involving the solicitation of explicit photos from a 16-year-old.
“This case highlights the critical role our Warrant Apprehension Unit plays in keeping our community safe,” said Adams County Sheriff Joshua Fitting. “Through their work, we found that Carr had left Gettysburg and was located in East Texas shortly after the warrants were issued.”
Carr’s arrest marks a final, dramatic chapter in his brief and controversial political career. He served as mayor of Gettysburg for only three months before resigning on March 3, 2026, citing “personal legal issues.”
Investigators allege that Carr used these positions of authority to groom young men, often under the guise of mentorship.
Carr is currently held in Texas without bond as the extradition process begins. He was originally scheduled for a preliminary hearing on his initial charges on April 16, 2026, in Pennsylvania. It remains unclear how his flight and subsequent arrest in Texas will impact that timeline.
Authorities in Pennsylvania continue to encourage anyone with further information regarding Carr to contact the Gettysburg State Police Station.
