Amherst County official facing charges of inappropriate contact with a child resigns

An Amherst County employee charged with inappropriate contact with a child has resigned as the director of economic development.

Leon Parrish, Amherst County Board of Supervisors chairman, said he was notified Wednesday of the resignation of John Mulvey, who has served as the economic development director since late 2008.

Mulvey was arrested June 18 after turning himself in to Amherst authorities. He is charged with attempted aggravated sexual battery against a child under age 13, a felony, Amherst police said.

He was later released on a $10,000 bond and ordered not to leave the commonwealth.

Supervisors met last week and talked about Mulvey’s job status in a closed session. They did not demand his resignation, Parrish said.

“We were waiting for the outcome of the trial,” he said.

Mulvey was hired in 2008 after Joe Mullen, the former economic development director, retired. His annual salary was approximately $60,000. He held a similar post in Washington County in eastern North Carolina.