By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

After spending almost two and a half years in jail awaiting trial, Alfard Steven Mullins Jr. is a free man.

A 12-member jury found Mullins not guilty on child sex charges following a trial in Polk County Superior Court on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Mullins was first arrested in South Carolina in January 2013 then later charged with additional counts for a separate alleged victim in Polk County.

During this week’s trial, which began on Monday, Aug. 31 at the Polk County Courthouse, six counts of felony child abuse with sexual act were dismissed at the close of the state’s evidence.

The jury found Mullins not guilty of the remaining six counts of indecent liberties with a child, six counts of first-degree sex offense with a child and first-degree rape of a child.

The jury left the courtroom at approximately 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday and knocked on the door indicating a verdict at 4:37 p.m.

Mullins, who at the time of his arrest was 34 years old, was originally arrested by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 11, 2013. Mullins, of Landrum, was charged by South Carolina officials with two counts each of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and incest, with the victim allegedly being between the ages of 11 and 14.

The investigation began in October 2012, when the mother of a teenage girl filed a report with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office stating that Mullins had been sexually abusing her daughter since 2006.

The mother reported to authorities that the last sexual abuse occurred on Aug. 3, 2012. At the time of his arrest Mullins worked as a custodian for Polk County Schools.

He resigned from his job at Polk schools shortly after his initial arrest and then faced additional charges in Polk County.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office charged Mullins on Feb. 11, 2013 with first-degree sexual offense and contributing to the delinquency of a minor for a separate alleged victim in Polk County. The alleged female victim in Polk County was under the age of 13 at the time of the alleged incidences, which were reported to have occurred in 2008, according to sheriff reports.

In April 2013, a Polk County Grand Jury handed down 21 true bills of indictment against Mullins. He was then given a $1 million bond.

Mullins spent 884 days in custody awaiting trial.

Mullins was represented by attorney Lee Atkins.

The case was prosecuted by assistant district attorneys Michael Bender and Doug Mundy.

Judge Gary Gavenus presided over the trial.