CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The trial for Maxwell Mandell, the Crozet babysitter and music teacher facing sexual assault and pornography charges, has been pushed back following a joint motion by the Commonwealth and Mandell’s defense team.
The 24-year-old Mandell appeared in Albemarle County Circuit Court on Friday morning for a status hearing. He will now be tried in a five-day jury trial, beginning on Monday, Feb. 8 at 9:15 a.m.
His trial was previously scheduled for Sept. 21-29. Both sides agreed to push the trial back due. Prosecutors said they are still working on gaining access to some of Mandell’s electronic devices. Defense attorney AndrĂ© Hakes said she is also waiting on some evaluation results.
Court records indicate Mandell currently is facing five counts of object sexual penetration, three counts of aggravated sexual battery, including one with a victim under 13-years-old, one count of indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship, 50 counts of possession of child pornography and 25 counts of filming.
Mandell was originally arrested in December for sexually assaulting a child he was babysitting. He had been offering babysitting and music lessons in Albemarle County prior to his arrest.
After expanding its investigation, Albemarle County Police later announced they had identified additional victims in January and Mandell was later indicted on child pornography charges in February.
