By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

A Polk County jury is scheduled to hear the case of Alfard Mullins Jr., of Landrum next week, who faces charges including first-degree rape of a child, indecent liberties with a child, felony child abuse and incest.

Next week’s Polk County Superior Court session will begin on Monday, Aug. 31 with Judge Gary Gavenus presiding.

Mullins was charged in 2013 with a grand jury handing down 21 true bills of indictment.

The investigation into Mullins began in January 2013 when Polk County officers received information from the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office regarding Mullins being arrested for sexual misconduct in South Carolina. At the time, Mullins was a custodian for Polk County Schools, but resigned after his arrest. The Tryon Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case because some of the allegations against Mullins allegedly took place in Tryon and some in the county.

Mullins was given a $1 million bond.

Also in Polk County Superior Court next week, the cases of Timothy Edward Hill and Angel Chamale Iquic are scheduled.

Hill, of Columbus, was arrested in June 2014 and charged with one count of felony first-degree sex offense of a child and two counts of felony indecent liberties with a child, according to Polk County Sheriff’s Office reports. Hill was originally given a $140,000 bond.

Also in June 2014, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested Iquic, of Tryon, and charged him with four counts of felony male rape, according to police reports. Iquic originally received a $420,000 bond.