Federal Trial Date for Mike Harvel scheduled for September 21

 A trial date of September 21, 2021 has been set in the case of federal charges against Mike Harvel, former Solid Waste director and Cumberland Co. Commissioner.

The trial will be a jury trial and the scheduling order issued by US District Judge William Campbell says that any plea agreement must be completed by August 16.

Mike Harvel mug shot from his arrest in 2018

Harvel was indited by a federal grand jury on numerous charges. The indictment alleges that between 2015-2018, Harvel sexually assaulted seven women under his supervision. Specific allegations include that he kidnapped and sexually assaulted two women and forcibly raped one of them on two separate occasions.

During one incident in July 2017, Harvel confined a woman in a locked room at a county facility, physically pushed her onto a table and sexually assaulted her. 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, Harvel drove this same woman to an isolated landfill and raped her again.

The indictment alleges several other incidents of sexual assault, including fondling the breasts and genitals of other women under his supervision and against their will.

Harvel faces up to life in prison and a maximum of $1.5 million in fines.

State Charges against Harvel remain pending in Tennessee Criminal Court. 

A previous EEOC Complaint filed by employees of the Solid Waste Department was settled with Cumberland County for $1.1 million. Link to story

Former Co Solid Waste Director Mike Harvel Ordered to Remain Locked Up Pending Trial

 Former Cumberland Co. Commissioner and director of the solid waste department Mike Harvel who is facing federal Civil Rights charges including kidnapping and rape will remain in federal detention pending a trial according to an order by Federal Magistrate Alistair Newbern.

Mug Shot of Mike Harvel from his 2018 arrest

A hearing Wednesday July 21 presented evidence by federal prosecutors as well as several local residents who spoke on behalf of Harvel (see previous story) but the magistrate ordered Harvel to remain locked up. The reasons for the continuing detention include “clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of any other person and the community.”

In addition the order stated that “the weight of evidence against the defendant (Harvel) is strong” and if convicted he would be “subject to a lengthy period of incarceration.”

Magistrate Newbern also gave Harvel a public defender though a notice of appearance was also filed by Nashville attorney Patrick NcNally who represented Harvel at the detention hearing. 

A trial date has not been set.

State Charges against Harvel are also pending in Criminal Court. 

A previous EEOC Complaint filed by employees of the Solid Waste Department was settled with Cumberland County for $1.1 million. Link to story

Decision on Mike Harvel's Release from Federal Detention Expected on Thursday Afternoon.

 Former Cumberland County solid waste director and former county commissioner Mike Harvel remains in Federal detention pending a decision by a federal Magistrate expected Thursday afternoon.

A hearing was held via Zoom on Wednesday with numerous witnesses including County residents who supported Harvel's release from detention pending a trial. Harvel is being defended by attorney Patrick McNally of Nashville.

Harvel's current employer, Jeff Proffitt of Proffitt Trucking described Harvel as polite on the job and offered to adjust schedules so Harvel would be home each night.

Several family members spoke for Harvel describing his 40 year marriage and that his father in law lives with the family.

Mike Harvel mug shot from state charges

Former County Commissioner and E-911 board member Tom Isham served on both boards with Harvel said he was proud to call Harvel his friend. Another former County Commissioner who served with Harvel, David Hassler also supported Harvel as a character witness.

Former County Road Superintendent Wendell Houston employed Harvel on the County Road Department and described him as a hard worker.

Assistant US Attorney Sara Beth Myers represented the prosecution and spelled out the indictment counts and the victims fear of Harvel. Myers pointed out the nature of the crimes adding that the only worse crime was murder. The number of similar stories were striking according to Myers and his conduct was similar with multiple victims and his use of his position of power to exploit the women.

The FBI continues their investigation into the matter and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact them.

Click to read the complete indictment.

Former Co. Solid Waste Director Mike Harvel Arrested by FBI for Kidnapping and Rape--Faces possible Life in Prison

Department of Justice Press Release: 

NASHVILLE – A nine-count indictment was unsealed Friday charging the former Cumberland County, Tennessee Solid Waste Director with civil rights violations, including kidnapping and sexually assaulting women that he supervised, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart for the Middle District of Tennessee.  A federal grand jury in Nashville on Monday indicted Michael Harvel, 59, of Crossville, Tennessee.  FBI agents arrested Harvel at his home Friday morning and he will appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge later today.

Mike Harvel mug shot from his arrest on state charges.

Those charges remain pending. Cumberland Co. settled 

a Civil Case for $1.1 Million earlier this year.

Link to previous settlement story

According to the indictment, Harvel was the Director of Solid Waste for Cumberland County with an office located in the Cumberland County Recycling Center.  Harvel’s official duties included supervising workers at the recycling center and at other satellite locations and county landfills where he supervised dozens of women who served their community service time or worked as paid employees.

The indictment alleges that between 2015-2018, Harvel sexually assaulted seven women under his supervision.  Specific allegations include that he kidnapped and sexually assaulted two women and forcibly raped one of them on two separate occasions. 

During one incident in July 2017, Harvel confined a woman in a locked room at a county facility, physically pushed her onto a table and sexually assaulted her.  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, Harvel drove this same woman to an isolated landfill and raped her again.

The indictment alleges several other incidents of sexual assault, including fondling the breasts and genitals of other women under his supervision and against their will.

If convicted, Harvel faces up to life in prison.

This case is being investigated by the FBI.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Beth Myers and Trial Attorney Michael Songer of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. 

An indictment is merely an accusation.  The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

High Tech Company Whisper Areo comes quietly to Crossville.

A startup called Whisper Aero, which is disclosing its plans for the first time, thinks it may be well on its way to solving this noise problem. The company was founded in mid-2020 by Mark Moore, a former National Aeronautics and Space Administration engineer turned executive within Uber Technologies Inc.’s once bustling flying vehicle division. While declining to reveal what he has come up with in full detail out of intellectual property protection concerns, Moore is convinced that Whisper has hit on a new “thruster” design that will result in consumer drones right on up to large passenger vehicles blending into the background noise of a city as they fly.  Read more at the link.

Bloomberg Article on Whisper Aero