Former Fairfax mayor pleads guilty to meth-for-sex charges, ordered held without bond

FAIRFAX, Va. (ABC7) — Former Fairfax City Mayor Richard "Scott" Silverthorne pled guilty Monday to meth distribution, according to ABC7 News' Richard Reeve.

He was expected to be released, pending sentencing at a later date, but Reeve reports there were audible gasps in the courtroom when the judge ordered him to go to jail.

Silverthorne has been free since last summer on his own recognizance. At his sentencing on

June 9, he faces up to 40 years in prison. Brian Drummond, his attorney, cited the former mayor's nearly three decades of public service and a clean record and said he's hoping for time served or probation.

Silverthorne faced charges after police say he offered two grams of meth to an undercover police officer at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in McLean, Virginia in Aug. 2016.

Police say Silverthorne and two other men were arrested during the hotel meth bust.

According to police, Silverthorne was allegedly distributing meth through a website used to arrange casual sexual encounters for men.

Prior to his 2016 arrest, Silverthorne won re-election as mayor, and was also employed as a substitute teacher with Fairfax County Public Schools.

In Feb. 2017, a special election was held in Fairfax City for mayor to replace Silverthorne.

This story will be updated.