Michael Campbell
Whitley County High School’s Athletic Director Michael Campbell has been placed on an unpaid leave of absence following his arrest last month in Baltimore, Maryland, on sex and assault related charges.
According to Maryland judiciary case records, Campbell, 49, was arrested on Jan. 22 and charged with second, third and fourth-degree sex offenses, first and second-degree assault and second-degree rape.
He is currently lodged in the Baltimore City Detention Center and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 18.
Baltimore Police Detective Jeremy Silbert said that on Jan 21, police received a call from a hospital reporting a sexual assault.
“When we arrived, we found a 23-year-old woman, who told us that her mother’s finance had sexually assaulted her on the night before,” Silbert said.
The assault allegedly took place on Jan. 20 in the 1000 block of Hunter Street in Baltimore.
“The victim tells officers she was sexually assaulted by Michael Campbell. After our investigation was concluded, our detectives did arrest him,” Silbert said.
Paul Croley, one of Campbell’s attorneys, said his client denies any wrongdoing.
“Mike Campbell has been a respected member of our community for many years. He regrets any embarrassment that this incident has caused. However, he vehemently denies any criminal wrongdoing. I sincerely hope people will consider that these charges are based upon the mere allegations of one person. There remains a lot more to this story than what has been reported. As such, the legal system will give Mike his day in court and get to the truth of the matter. We are confident he will be exonerated of these charges,” Croley said in a written statement.
Whitley County Superintendent Scott Paul said that he learned about the situation through an anonymous letter sent to his office Thursday and Campbell was placed on unpaid leave of absence effective Jan. 22.
“It’s an employee discipline issue that I cannot comment on but I will verify that he is on unpaid leave currently,” Paul said.
Paul said it is his understanding that Campbell is the person connected to the Baltimore case.
Because Campbell is on unpaid leave, he technically now holds no position with the district, noted Deputy Superintendent Paula Trickett.
John Siler is serving as the acting athletic director.
Paul said that the letter he received is similar to one the News Journal received this week from an anonymous person.
The letter was a two-page District Court of Maryland computer printout, which had two pictures of Campbell taped onto it, along with two numbers for the Baltimore Police Department.
Campbell served as the head coach of the Whitley County High School Football Team for 17 years before resigning after the 2005 season and becoming the school’s athletic director.
In late 2005, Campbell filed to run for Whitley County Judge-Executive. He garnered 1,863 votes in the Republican Primary and finished third behind former Judge-Executive Leroy Gilbert, who had 2,253 votes, and current Judge-Executive Pat White Jr., who received 3,914 votes.
