The internet is buzzing with the recent arrest of 29-year-old Matthew Mellerson, a Richmond pastor and Sheriff’s deputy who is now facing several charges of sexual misconduct with at least three inmates at the city jail.
According to court documents, Matthew Mellerson was indicted on six counts of carnal knowledge of an inmate and two counts of sexual battery. The indictment charges him with using his position of power and influence to force inmates to have sex with him on multiple occasions between September 2017 and February 2018.
Mellerson was released on a $5,000 bond and scheduled to appear in Richmond Circuit Court on July 20.
According to the city’s communications office, Mellerson was hired as a deputy and chaplain in July of 2016. After his arrest, Mellerson was terminated from his job.
“When the matter was brought to our attention, the sheriff immediately ordered an internal investigation and asked the Richmond Police Department to conduct its own criminal investigation at the same time,” a spokesperson for the city said. “Mellerson was suspended without pay and subsequently terminated as the investigation ended in which Mellerson was charged and arrested.”
