Albemarle county babysitter faces 82 felony charges after new grand jury indictments
handcuffs

Albemarle County babysitter faces 82 felony charges after new grand jury indictments

Posted by
1 min read
April 10, 2026

New charges expand case involving alleged assaults tied to childcare services

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – A Crozet man accused of sexually assaulting victims while offering babysitting services is now facing a total of 82 felony charges after a grand jury returned dozens of new indictments this week, significantly expanding an ongoing investigation in Albemarle County.

The Albemarle County Police Department said Maxwell H. Mandell, 24, was indicted Monday on 32 additional charges, bringing the total count tied to the case to 82. The charges stem from allegations connected to Mandell’s work providing babysitting services and music lessons in the Crozet area prior to his arrest in December.

Scope of new charges and investigation

“The Albemarle County Police Department has obtained 32 additional charges against a 24-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting victims through babysitting services,” the department said in an update posted Tuesday. “In total, Mandell now faces 82 felonies related to the investigation.”

According to police, the new indictments include possession of child pornography, manufacturing child pornography, object sexual penetration, and aggravated sexual battery under Virginia law. The charges were issued by an Albemarle County grand jury on Monday.

Mandell was previously arrested on Dec. 5 and has remained in custody since that time.

Police seek additional victims and information

Investigators say Mandell may have had contact with families beyond Albemarle County and are urging anyone who interacted with him professionally to come forward.

“ACPD encourages anyone who hired or had contact with Mandell in a professional capacity at any time to contact Crime Stoppers,” the department said. “Additional victims may be located outside Albemarle County, including the Blacksburg area, where Mandell previously resided.”

Mandell is currently being held without bond at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail as the case continues to develop.

Albemarle County crime, Crozet Virginia news, child exploitation charges, Virginia grand jury indictments, babysitter criminal case

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Don't Miss