The former mayor of Athens, Texas, pleaded guilty to child obscenity charges on Friday. Athens is a city of around 12,500 in Henderson County, about 80 miles east of Dallas.
James “Monte” Montgomery, 64, was arrested on June 3, 2021, when he was caught attempting to solicit sex online with investigators posing as minors. He was arrested after going to an undisclosed location to meet with a child.
Three other men were arrested with Montgomery on similar charges: Jesse Bennett Mason, Jordan Rook, and Michael David Bylsma.
Montgomery began messaging a person he believed to be a 15-year-old girl in June 2020 while he was still mayor. The DOJ stated that he described “sexually explicit acts” to the minor and offered to pay her for sex.
The City of Athens released a statement at the time explaining, “These are very serious allegations and the City of Athens does not take them lightly. We are committed to the protection and safety of our children. The City Council will be considering all possible actions as details become available.”
While his term in office continued to 2023, Montgomery resigned the day following his arrest. The former mayor faces 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. His hearing has not yet been scheduled.
This case was a part of Project Safe Childhood, which specifically targets the online exploitation of children. The program is dedicated to marshaling “federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children.”