Sheriff's Deputy Stung With Attempt Rape of Child Charge

Sheriff's corporal charged with attempted rape of child in sting
The Richmond Times Dispatch by Mark Bowes - March 23, 2011

An undercover Petersburg police sting operation has resulted in the arrest of a 67-year-old Petersburg sheriff’s deputy on charges of trying to have sex with underage girls, authorities announced today. Cpl. Vernard Bailey, a 27-year veteran of the Petersburg Sheriff’s Office, was arrested Tuesday after authorities said he attempted to engage in sex acts with a young girl through an adult cooperating with police, Petersburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Cassandra Conover said. “There was an adult he was using to help him solicit and get the underage girl,” Conover said. “No children were involved. The charges are attempted because he wasn’t able to complete the acts, because it was an undercover operation.” Authorities set up the sting after receiving information about Bailey from a “concerned citizen,” Conover said. According to arrest warrants on file in Petersburg Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, Bailey was charged with attempted forcible sodomy of a child under 13, attempting to propose sexual intercourse with a child under 15, attempting to commit rape by having sexual intercourse with a child under 13 and solicitation of a prostitute. All of the offenses were alleged to have occurred Tuesday. Petersburg Sheriff Vanessa R. Crawford said Bailey was terminated today after she learned of the substance of the charges, and confirmed that Bailey had confessed. Crawford said Bailey supervised inmates inside and outside of the jail on work details. Police said a search of Bailey’s home in the 20700 block of Little Road in Chesterfield County revealed further evidence supporting the charges. In addition, investigators confiscated more than 55 firearms of various calibers “for public safety concerns,” police said. “When you have a person who is working for law enforcement, who has these kinds of charges, and now who has lost their job, you have a concern as to whether or not this person might be a threat to himself or others,” Conover said. Bailey was being held without bond in the Brunswick County jail pending a bond hearing March 28.