Amherst official faces inappropriate contact charge

Amherst County’s economic development director was released from jail Friday after being arrested the day before and charged with inappropriate contact with a child, authorities said.

John Mulvey, 48, of Amherst, was suspended without pay on April 15, according to police and county officials.

Mulvey is charged with attempted aggravated sexual battery against a child under age 13, a felony, police said.

Mulvey turned himself in Thursday afternoon and was booked at the Amherst County Jail, where he initially was ordered held without bond. He was released Friday after posting $10,000 bond. He was ordered to not leave the commonwealth.

Mulvey has no criminal record, other than traffic citations, according to police.

He has been the county’s economic development director since December 2008 and his annual salary was approximately $60,000. He had held a similar post in Washington County in eastern North Carolina.

A family member of the child reported the allegation to police on March 30, and a patrol officer met with the girl, who lives in Amherst, said Amherst Police Chief Kenneth Watts. The investigation, which Watts termed “lengthy and difficult,” began immediately and involved the Amherst County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office.

Mulvey’s attorney, Tom Shrader, said he would not comment. David Proffitt, the interim county administrator, said Mulvey’s employment status remained the same. Because Mulvey is a county employee, Watts informed then-county administrator Rodney Taylor of the probe on April 1, Watts said. Taylor later briefed the Board of Supervisors about the investigation.

The Board of Supervisors earlier this month authorized an investigation into an apparent leak of confidential information regarding a county employee; Watts said last week that the leak involved the investigation into the charge against Mulvey.

Taylor has said that turmoil over the leak led to his forced resignation as county administrator on April 23.

Supervisors have said that Taylor accused a board member of leaking information and have stood by their decision to ask for his resignation.

Taylor issued a statement after Mulvey’s arrest stating that due to the nature of the investigation, he was obligated to discuss the leak with Watts.

Watts said that the debate has not affected the case.

“We have focused on the investigation of the case and the rights of the victim and the accused were our priority, and not any political debate that may exist,” he said.

Mulvey was suspended without pay not because of the nature of the investigation, but because county policy does not establish a procedure for suspending an employee with pay, officials said.

The topic of Mulvey’s position is on the agenda for a Board of Supervisors meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the county administration building, though at least a portion of the meeting was to be held in a closed session as supervisors discuss potential candidates to replace Taylor.