Indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship alledged
by Tom Chillemi –
Former Middlesex High School Resource Officer Clayton Colley has been charged with the felony of taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of stalking, reported Sgt. Michelle Anaya, public information officer with the Virginia State Police (VSP).
Colley surrendered to VSP agents without incident on Aug. 25, said Sgt. Anaya this week.
A school resource officer (SRO) is a deputy placed in school for security.
Colley appeared in Middlesex Juvenile and Domestic Relations (JDR) Court on Tuesday, Aug. 30, for an arraignment hearing and he informed the court that he will retain an attorney, said Middlesex Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Hurd. Colley is scheduled to appear in JDR Court this month for confirmation that he has an attorney and to set a trial date.
The preliminary hearing will eventually be conducted in JDR Court, Hurd said. However, the lower courts only find probable cause or no probable cause regarding felonies, and if there is probable cause, then Colley’s case would be certified for trial in Middlesex Circuit Court, Hurd added. Colley is currently free on $1,000 bond, Hurd said.
“Dismissed”
Colley was “dismissed” as SRO at Middlesex High School in October 2021 following allegations of misconduct.
Major M.E. Sampson of the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) said this week, “The sheriff of Middlesex County has zero tolerance for any unprofessional or questionable behavior. Deputy Colley was immediately suspended within one hour of the allegation and subsequently was relieved of all duties with the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office the next day.”
Colley was no longer a deputy when he was arrested last week, Maj. Sampson emphasized.
Colley, who court records list as an Urbanna resident, had worked as a MCSO sheriff’s deputy for more than seven years, according to his LinkedIn page.
Background
The alleged incident was first reported by a Middlesex High School staff member and was initially investigated by the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office.
At the request of the MCSO, the case was then investigated by the Virginia State Police and other agencies, said Maj. Sampson.
The Virginia State Police charged Colley last week.
Hiring process
The Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office conducts thorough background investigations on “all” deputy applicants, said Maj. Sampson. “All applicants go through a check of known associates, a credit check, and if they pass these preliminary tests, they go before an oral review board.
“The next step in the hiring process is a polygraph (lie detector) examination and a psychological test conducted by professionals who specialize in police applicant processes,” Sampson said.
“The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office does not deviate from these processes for the purpose of simply filling a position,” Maj. Sampson emphasized.
All three Middlesex public schools have a deputy assigned to the school as an SRO.
