From The Tribune staff reports
HOMEWOOD — An employee of Alabama Governor Kay Ivey’s office is facing a charge of child solicitation by computer – electronic solicitation.
Espy was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 9:28 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 25, according to jail records. He posted a $30,000 bond and was released just before 2 a.m. Thursday.
Homewood Police said the department’s Special Investigations Unit arrested Espy after an ongoing investigation but did not release further details.
“This operation is part of an ongoing effort by the Homewood Police Department to combat crimes involving the exploitation of children,” Homewood PD said in a press release Thursday.
Gov. Kay Ivey’s office released the following statement:
The allegations against Mr. Espy are serious, tragic and shocking. While he was employed by our office for only a few months, Mr. Espy has been terminated. As this is an ongoing investigation, no further information is available at this time.
Espy was a law clerk for Sen. Jeff Sessions for a short time in 2009 and was on the Senate Judiciary Committee Bankruptcy and the Court Subcommittee from 2011 to 2012. He was also an affiliate of Balch & Bingham LLP, in Birmingham.
Espy is considered innocent until proven guilty.