POWHATAN COUNTY, Va. -- A man who worked in the band department at Powhatan County High School was arrested and charged with taking indecent liberties with a child.
Nicholas White, 23, of Chesterfield County, was also charged with "one misdemeanor count of willfully encourage or cause a child to become delinquent, in need of services, abused, or neglected," according to the Powhatan Sheriff's Office.
The Powhatan County High School marching band was practicing in the school's parking lot Friday afternoon without one of their leaders.
“I’m shocked. We’re a tight community and it’s kind of strange to hear something like that,” said former student Charlotte Gill.
White "was employed as a contractor" at the high school, investigators said. Sheriff's investigators have not indicated whether the child involved in this incident is a Powhatan High School student, however they have asked other schools for help in their investigation.
"It is possible that White currently works for or with various other school districts in the area," investigators said. "Any school officials that currently employ/contract or have employed/contracted with White in the past please contact Powhatan County Sheriff's Detective Jeffery S. Searfoss at 804-598-5654."
The Powhatan County School Board said that White was hired by the school's booster club to help the marching band. Officials said he passed a criminal background check.
Additionally, George Mason University confirmed that White was employed by the school on a contract basis.
White was arrested Thursday and is being held without bond at Piedmont Regional Jail.
