Texas mayor resigns in January, now charged with sexual assault of child, police

A Texas mayor won re-election in November 2020, resigned in January and police say he has now been arrested on sexual assault of a child charges.

According to the city of Smithville, allegations were first made on Facebook and accused the former mayor, Scott Saunders, Jr., of criminal offenses.

The city said the information was forwarded to the Texas Rangers for an investigation.

“We were notified this morning, May 10, 2021, that former Mayor Scott Saunders, Jr. was arrested and booked into the Bastrop County Jail on two (2) counts of sexual assault of a child and one (1) count of indecency with a child,” the city’s statement read.

Saunders won re-election in November, but he announced in January that he was resigning.

At the time, KXAN reported Saunders said, “Let’s just say I was mentally, physically, financially and emotionally exhausted; I’m a young guy with a young family and a new business just trying to make it. My hectic work schedule is not only impacting my family but also my mental and physical health.”

Court records show the charges stem from alleged incidents in June 2010 and May 2015, authorities said.