David Scott, the 49-year-old head of Exxon’s shale oil company, was arrested at a Texas hotel on sexual assault charges.

• David Scott, 49, was arrested on Thursday at his hotel in Magnolia, Texas
• The married senior vice president was snapped near his company’s headquarters
• He has been suspended from his duties by ExxonMobil pending investigation

The head of Exxon’s shale oil company was arrested at a Texas hotel on sexual assault charges after one of the two women in the room with him called the police.

David Scott, 49, was arrested early Thursday morning at the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Magnolia, near his company’s headquarters in Spring, the Montgomery Police Office said.

One of the two women they were with reported the married senior vice president after she left a $109-a-night room and called police from the lobby, and a hotel worker told Reuters he saw security video.

Scott is currently in merger talks to acquire rival Pioneer Natural Resources in a deal that could value the shale producer at about $60 billion.

As senior vice president of shale operations, he would not necessarily be involved in merger talks, a person familiar with the matter said.

Scott’s LinkedIn profile shows that he has been with Exxon for more than 26 years and has been involved in some of its most significant oil and gas projects around the world.

The Australian-born Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology graduate took over the senior vice-president role eight months ago with a salary of $520,000.

He faces a felony charge of second-degree assault and was released on $30,000 bail, according to jail records.

Convictions for such felonies in Texas carry a minimum of two years and up to 20 years in prison.

Scott did not immediately respond to a message sent by Reuters to his LinkedIn profile.

ExxonMobil has since confirmed that Scott has been suspended pending a criminal investigation.

“All ExxonMobil employees, officers and directors have a responsibility to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and code of conduct in support of the company’s business and others,” a company spokeswoman said.

‘We are aware of these allegations and cannot comment on a personal matter; however, we can say that this individual will not continue with work responsibilities as the investigation continues.’

DailyMail.com has contacted Pioneer Natural Resources for comment.

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