Former Pilot Point Mayor Matt McIlravy pleaded guilty of online solicitation of a minor under 14 on Feb. 4 and was sentenced to five years deferred adjudication probation on Monday.
The decision came from the 380th District Court in Collin County, presided over by District Judge Benjamin Smith.
“Mr. McIlravy is grateful for all the support he has received from the community and from friends and he is grateful for the opportunity to prove to the court and to the community his commitment to change and to becom- ing a productive member of the community,” reads a release from Haughton Law Group.
With a sentence of deferred adjudication probation, McIlravy will be required to meet the requirements of the court for that probation, the release says, and failure to do so would result in a sentence of 2 to 20 years in prison.
“If the defendant successfully completes the probation period without any violations, the charges will be dismissed, and no conviction will be recorded,” the release reads. “… Mr. McIlravy will, nevertheless, be required to register as a sex offender.”
McIlravy was elected as mayor on May 7, 2022, and then was arrested on the online solicitation charge on June 21, 2022, at Pilot Point City Hall.
He was indicted on Oct. 18, 2022.
“Evidence presented by the defense included extensive testimony regarding the personal rehabilitation work Mr. McIlravy has done, since his arrest almost 3 years ago, in various recovery and accountability programs,” the release said.
It also cited psychotherapist Ezio Leite as an expert witness who “testified that Mr. McIlravy was very likely a very low risk to reoffend,” the release said.
