A former Fairfax County police officer is being indicted for allegedly engaging in sexual misconduct with a minor in the Fairfax County Police Public Safety Cadet program.

Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced the indictment of ex-officer John Grimes in a press conference this morning.

Grimes is accused of misconduct that allegedly took place between Nov. 12 and Dec. 16, 2019. He “maintained a supervisory relationship” over the minor, Descano said in a statement. The indictment follows an investigation by Fairfax County Police.

“Upon reviewing the investigation into this matter, I determined that it was appropriate to charge Mr. Grimes with three counts of custodial indecent liberties and a grand jury agreed,” Descano said in the statement. “Crimes in which young people in our community are taken advantage of by those in positions of authority within the criminal justice system are particularly egregious and threaten our community’s confidence in the system.”

The Fairfax County Public Safety cadet program is open to young people between the ages of 14 and 21 years old. The county operates three Public Safety Cadet units throughout the county, two of which are based at West Potomac High School and Annandale High School. Police officers in the program serve as mentors to the cadets.

Cadets learn what it’s like to be a police officer by undergoing basic police training, providing public services like car seat installations and trash pick-ups, and accompanying officers on ride-alongs. Scholarships are also available to students in the program. The Public Safety Cadets is a national nonprofit that aims to prepare young adults for careers in public safety.

The allegations of sexual misconduct are “alarming,” Fairfax County Police Spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi tweeted Tuesday morning. “If proven, they undermine everything we stand for.”

This story will be updated.