A Michigan Democrat won reelection in a landslide despite resigning two months ago after being arrested on suspicion of having sex with an underage boy.
Ken Fletcher was a superintendent in Delta Township, about 10 minutes west of Lansing. Fletcher resigned on September 3, the day before he was indicted on child sex charges.
Law enforcement officers reportedly “posed as a 15-year-old male on the mobile dating app Grindr from August 13th to August 14th” to speak with Fletcher.
Township Manager Brian Reed said Mr. Fletcher resigned “immediately” during the township board meeting, and the board accepted his resignation. Reed added, “The town has also been made aware of open criminal investigations unrelated to his duties as supervisor.”
In the most recent election, Fletcher received nearly 89% of the vote. He was opposed by two write-in candidates: Saturn Wells, who received just over 11% of the vote, and Richard Ott, who received no votes at all.
Fletcher was arrested on September 4 and charged with soliciting a child for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime. He pleaded not guilty to two felonies and was released on bail.
According to police, Fletcher, 58, was caught in a sting operation. At the time police were posing with a teenage boy, he was reportedly 15 years old on Grindr (the self-proclaimed “world's largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people”). He said he thought he was talking to a young boy.
wilkes tv They obtained documents that claim Fletcher was “conversating privately with Detective Scheib of the Eaton County Sheriff's Office.” Law enforcement officers reportedly “posed as a 15-year-old male on the mobile dating app Grindr between August 13 and August 14” to speak with Fletcher.
The newspaper said Fletcher “continued to send attractive messages and expressed a willingness to meet the 15-year-old boy at the Lansing Mall for the purpose of 'just talking.'”
Mr. Fletcher remained on the ballot under state election law.
Fletcher has until January 1, 2025 to accept or decline the position.
new york post reported Mr Fletcher's lawyer, Michael Nichols, said his client was “pleasantly surprised” by the election results.
Nichols asked WILX. “The big question for Ken Fletcher is: Is this the right thing not just for me but for the community? Am I still the best person for the job?”
“Mr. Fletcher has three options and therefore cannot act in a certain way before we know,” said Delta Township Clerk Mary Clark, who has served as interim superintendent since Mr. Fletcher resigned. It's very presumptive to decide to do or act on what's going on in that position. ”
Mr Clark added: “If he has not taken the oath by then, he can vacate the office. He could take the oath and resign, or of course he could take the oath and remain in office.”
Fletcher is scheduled to return to court on November 12th.
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