Mayor Tharpe charged and released on recognizance, AG ordered investigation October 2018

Front Royal Mayor Hollis L. Tharpe, 67, appeared in Warren County Circuit Court to face charges on Monday (April 15) upon being indicted by a Warren County grand jury on one misdemeanor count of solicitation of sexual conduct (18.2-346).

According to Virginia State Police spokesperson Corrine Geller, the charge stems from an investigation initiated in October 2018 by the Virginia State Police at the direction of the Office of Attorney General Mark R. Herring. The incident remains under investigation. Tharpe was released by a magistrate on his own recognizance.

Monday morning Tharpe placed himself on voluntary and temporary administrative leave from his mayoral duties for the Town while he deals with legal issues. He will not receive pay while on voluntary leave.

Court documents filed online Friday, April 12, 2019, indicated that Hollis Tharpe was poised to be indicted for “solicitation of prostitution” by a Warren County grand jury Monday afternoon (April 15).

The date of the alleged offense – case number CR19-000-290-00 – is May 31, 2018, and involves a visit to a local massage parlor.

Asked about the charge Saturday evening, April 13, Tharpe said, “It’s embarrassing – but it’s a baseless charge.”

Tharpe declined further comment pending conversations with an attorney. However, he said at the time he did not foresee the charge impacting his service as mayor of Front Royal in the immediate future – “I am an elected official,” he pointed out.

When queried about a criminal investigation aimed his way revealed when Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney Brian Madden recused himself on August 30, 2018, from involvement in any potential prosecution of the Front Royal mayor, Tharpe expressed confusion.

“I can’t find anything out – no one has called; no one has threatened to take me to court. If someone would pick up the phone and call me, I could say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ – but I guess the system doesn’t work that way,” Tharpe lamented of the informational vacuum he was operating in.

The mayor asserts the charge is “baseless” and is a case of “being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Winchester Commonwealth’s Attorney Marc Abrams was appointed by the court to replace Madden on the prosecutorial side were charges filed from the investigation into Front Royal’s mayor.

Vice Mayor William Sealock will preside over council meetings in the mayor’s absence.