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DSS worker jailed, charged with molesting two children
By Lynn Hotaling
 A county social worker remains behind bars on multiple counts of sex offenses against children.
Brian Keith Linkous, 38, of Sylva, who is originally from Georgia, was arrested Friday (March 18) and accused of molesting two children, a 9-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl, said Jackson County Sheriff Jimmy Ashe.
The young victims are not children Linkous encountered in the course of his job as a Department of Social Services child protective services worker, but are family members, Ashe said.
Linkous, who was employed by Jackson County DSS last August, was placed on administrative leave this past Monday (March 21), Ashe said.
He is charged with two counts of first-degree sex offense on a child, two counts of indecent liberties on a child, two counts of felony sex acts on a child and two counts of crimes against nature, Ashe said.
The incidents are alleged to have occurred from January through March of this year, according to documents on file at the Jackson County Clerk of Court’s Office.
A search warrant at the Clerk’s Office indicates a history of deviant behavior by Linkous, though he had apparently never been charged with a crime.
In a statement filed with his application for a search warrant, Detective Patrick McCoy of the Sheriff’s Office stated that Linkous’ wife told him that Linkous had castrated himself with rubber bands while he was growing up.
McCoy’s report also indicates that Linkous admitted during an interview to “having a problem with pornography and masturbating” and that he had changed his Internet service to one that filters out pornography. He confirmed to McCoy that he had castrated himself with rubber bands and that he cannot have children.
McCoy’s report states that Nanci Linkous became suspicious when the 2-year-old developed a rash and swelling after being left alone with Brian Linkous.
DSS Director Bob Cochran said Tuesday that he was aware of the charges against Brian Linkous and was cooperating with the Sheriff’s Office.
“These are very serious charges, and we in our department are very concerned about them,” Cochran said. “Child safety is our highest priority, and we conduct thorough criminal background checks on all of our employees.”
A background check on Brian Linkous was done when he was hired last summer and no criminal records were found, Cochran said. Four previous employers provided positive recommendations, Cochran said.
At this time there are no indications that any DSS clients are involved in any way with the charges against Brian Linkous, Cochran said.
“We are taking every step to address this matter responsibly and in ways that provide maximum safety to any children that may be involved,” he said.
Local DSS officials have notified the state DSS office and provided them with all the information currently available, Cochran said.
Sheriff Ashe said the investigation is ongoing.
“We will be diligently seeking those (Brian Linkous) had open cases on to determine if there are any other victims,” Ashe said Monday. “We’re urging anyone with information on any children harmed in any way by Brian Linkous or anyone else to call us at 586-4480.”
Ashe said his officers had contacted Swain County law enforcement officials since Brian Linkous was formerly employed at Hawthorn Heights, a Bryson City home for troubled youth..
Brian Linkous is being held under a $300,000 bond, Ashe said.
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