Former Norton Parks and Recreation Maintenance Supervisor Indicted on Federal Civil Rights Violations

ABINGDON, VIRGINIA – The former Parks and Recreation Department Maintenance Supervisor for the City of Norton was indicted today by a federal grand jury for violating the civil rights of two female victims after he allegedly used his authority to engage in, and attempt to engage in, sexual activity with women under his supervision while performing community service hours, United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. announced today.

Michael Todd Lintz, 52, of Norton, Virginia, was indicted today by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon. Lintz is charged with one misdemeanor count of using his authority to engage in coercive sexual relations with Female Worker 1, willfully depriving her of her right to bodily integrity, one misdemeanor count of using his authority to attempt to engage in coercive sexual relations with Female Worker 2, willfully depriving her of her right to bodily integrity, one felony count of obstruction of justice and one felony count of making a false statement to a federal law enforcement officer.

According to the indictment, from July 2015 through November 2015, Lintz, while acting under color of law, used his authority to engage in coercive sexual relations with Female Worker 1, willfully depriving her of the right, secured and protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States, to bodily integrity.

In addition, the indictment alleges that from August 2015 through November 2015, Linz, while acting under color of law, used his authority to attempt to engage in coercive sexual relations with Female Worker 2, willfully depriving her of the right, secured and protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States, to bodily integrity.       

On or about September 16, 2015, the indictment alleges, that Lintz obstructed justice by providing false testimony, under oath, in an effort to secure the release of Female Worker 1 on bond. Lintz knowingly concealed material information from the United States Magistrate Court for the Western District of Virginia, testifying that his only relationship with Female Worker 1 was as her supervisor on community service and testifying that Female Worker 1 had completed all of the community service hours to which she had been assigned. The testimony of Lintz was false because he had, in fact, had sexual contact with Female Worker 1 while supervising her on community service, had personal contact with Female Worker 1 outside of work, and the time card for which Lintz was testifying included hours that Lintz told Female Worker 1 to falsely claim hours in exchange for sexual favors.

The indictment also alleges that on or about February 16, 2016, Lintz knowingly made a false statement to a federal law enforcement officer, specifically an officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives regarding his sexual contact with individuals that Lintz supervised on community service. Lintz falsely denied having a sexual relationship with Female Worker 1 in 2015 and falsely represented that he had not engaged in a sexual relationship with anyone during the time he supervised them on community service. The statements were false, because as Lintz then and there knew, he had engaged in sexual relations with Female Worker 1 during the time he supervised her on community service in 2015 and he had also engaged in sexual relations with other female workers during the time he supervised them on community service.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Erin M. Kulpa will prosecute the case for the United States.

A Grand Jury Indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Lintz is scheduled to appear in federal court in Abingdon on these charges on Thursday, July 28, 2016, at 10:00 a.m.