CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Louisa Commonwealth’s Attorney Rusty McGuire announced that 24-year-old Samuel Mark Mackey was convicted Monday (Jun 17, 2024) of taking indecent liberties with a minor while in a supervisory capacity.

Virginia College Advising Corps is a program run by the University of Virginia who’s advertised mission is: “Increasing the number of low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented high school students who enter and complete higher education.”  The program assigned Mackey to work at the Louisa County High School as a college advisor.  In this capacity, he met with high school students and assisted them with financial aid applications, scholarships, and college applications.

In October 2023, two juveniles came forward after receiving numerous inappropriate and vulgar messages of a sexual nature from Mackey.  The students had met with Mackey during class at the high school where he had obtained their phone numbers.  He subsequently sought private meetings with them and, in one message, Mackey asked the child if she “wanna f**k” in his office.  The two juveniles initially believed that that he wanted their telephone numbers for the sole purpose of communicating with them about college.  They had no idea that Mackey would quickly twist the communications into something inappropriate and sexual.  Upon receiving the vulgar messages, both girls came forward and disclosed Mackey’s behavior to the Louisa County Sherriff’s Office School Resource Officer at the high school.

On speaking on the convictions McGuire said: “It’s wrong to steal the innocence of a child, but it’s even worse when you are in a position of responsibility where the kids look up to you for guidance.  We’re glad Mackey was caught before this got any further.” Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Morgane Harper, who served as lead counsel, said: “We are thankful for the bravery of these two young ladies in coming forward so that we can hold Mackey responsible.  We are also thankful to the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia State Police for all of their hard work and dedication to bringing this case to a successful resolution.  We hope that this sends a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in Louisa County. “

Mackey faces up to 5 years in prison when he is sentenced on August 26, 2024.

Please contact Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Morgane Harper at mharper@louisacounty.gov with any questions.