A deputy in Richmond, Virginia who also worked as a pastor has been arrested and charged with having sex with male inmates.
Matthew Eli Mellerson, 29, was indicted by a grand jury on June 7 on six counts of carnal knowledge of an inmate and two counts of sexual abusing an inmate. Mellerson is a deputy with the Richmond City Sheriff’s Office and is also a chaplain at the Richmond jail.
The crimes allegedly occurred several times in September 2017 and involved male inmates, court documents state. But more allegations surfaced in January and February of 2018.
Police say, Mellerson used his position as chaplain to lure inmates into sexual activity at the Richmond Jail. There are three male victims total.
Mellerson holds a Masters of Divinity from Virginia Union and a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy and religious studies from a college in Florida.
Mellerson has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.