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Table of Contents

Former Cumberland County Official Charged with Kidnapping

A shocking case of abuse of power has come to light in Cumberland County, Tennessee, where the former Solid Waste Director has been indicted for civil rights violations, including kidnapping and sexually assaulting women under his supervision.

According to the indictment, Michael Harvel, 59, of Crossville, Tennessee, used his position to prey on the women he supervised, including those serving community service time or working as paid employees at the Cumberland County Recycling Center.

The indictment alleges that between 2015 and 2018, Harvel sexually assaulted seven women, including two who were kidnapped and forcibly raped on separate occasions. The disturbing allegations include being confined in a locked room, being physically pushed onto a table, and being raped in a dark office and an isolated landfill.

One victim was confined in a locked room at a county facility in July 2017, where she was physically pushed onto a table and sexually assaulted. In another incident in November 2015, Harvel approached another woman in a dark office, physically pushed her onto a desk, and raped her. In December 2015, he drove her to an isolated landfill and raped her again.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Beth Myers and Trial Attorney Michael Songer of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case, which is being investigated by the FBI. Harvel faces up to life in prison if convicted.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and Harvel is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The FBI arrested Harvel at his home this morning, and he will appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge later today.

This case highlights the urgent need for greater accountability and transparency in our communities, particularly in positions of authority. We must ensure that those in power are held accountable for their actions and that victims receive the justice they deserve.