ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A Maitland camp counselor accused of molesting a child is now facing a second criminal charge, and his public defender has withdrawn from the case citing a conflict of interest.
Mahlyk Poole, 21, was originally arrested last week on one count of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child under the age of 12. According to state prosecutors, a second charge was filed Tuesday involving similar allegations.
The charges stem from Poole’s time working as a counselor for Discover After School, a private summer program that rents space on the campus of Dommerich Elementary School in Maitland. While the camp is not affiliated with Orange County Public Schools, district officials say the allegations are being taken seriously.
Poole was denied bond during a court appearance on Friday, with a judge calling the charge a life felony. He was arrested again on Tuesday on the second charge and remains in the Orange County Jail.
During a hearing Wednesday morning, the public defender assigned to Poole’s case filed a motion to withdraw, citing a conflict of interest. Judge Cherish Adams approved the request. A new attorney is expected to be appointed before Poole’s next court appearance, which is scheduled for Tuesday.
So far, the full arrest affidavits for both charges have not been made available online. News 6 is working to obtain those documents from the courthouse.
In a statement to News 6, Orange County Public Schools confirmed that Discover After School is not run by the district but said Poole has been terminated from the program.
This is a developing story.