SC jail officer arrested, charged with sex crime

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — A recently fired officer of the Cherokee County jail has been charged with a sex crime involving a 7-year-old girl.

Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller says 36-year-old Harold Glenn Phillips of Gaffney has been charged by the State Law Enforcement Division with first-degree criminal sexual assault with a minor under age 11.

Mueller says the child’s mother reported the allegations in July. SLED was asked to investigate because of Phillips’ job. The sheriff says Mueller was fired after failing a polygraph test. Mueller has worked at the jail since July 2009.

The sheriff says Mueller was transferred to the Spartanburg County jail for his own safety. He remained in jail Wednesday morning.

It was unclear if Mueller has an attorney. A call to his listed address was not immediately returned.