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Air Force recruiter, coach arrested on charges of sexual misconduct with child
By Lynn Hotaling
 A local Air Force recruiter who is also a substitute teacher, Scotts Creek assistant basketball coach and Cub Scout leader has been arrested on charges of sexual misconduct with a child.
Lt. Joseph Edmond Germain, 32, remained in jail Tuesday under a $255,000 bond. According to documents on file in the Jackson County Clerk of Court’s Office, Germain faces 34 counts of taking indecent liberties with a child under the age of 12.
The alleged abuse took place at Germain’s residence and involves a female family member, according to Jackson County Sheriff Jimmy Ashe.
Based on a search warrant request on file at the Clerk’s Office, the alleged abuse occurred over the past several years.
The initial June 5 report was made through the victim’s mother, whose preacher called Deputy J.P. Gallardo because he is a church member. Gallardo, who was off duty, referred the case to Sgt. Matt Helton, who referred the investigation to Detective Andi Clayton.
Clayton, who interviewed both the victim and her mother, filed the search warrant application that contains a summary of her finding.
According to the document, the victim’s mother found underwear tags she didn’t recognize and asked the child about them. The victim said Germain had bought the under garments for her and watched while she tried them on. The victim also said Germain had touched her “in private places” several times during the past few years.
The victim’s mother confronted Germain, who initially denied the charges but subsequently made a confession that corroborated the victim’s version of events.
Germain was arrested last Thursday (June 8).
The search warrant was executed Monday. Among the items seized were two computers, one of which apparently has some connection to the U.S. Air Force, since Clayton’s report indicated that an Air Force representative had called and asked if it would be taken.
Both computers have been taken to Asheville to see if their hard drives contain any material that can be used as evidence, Ashe said.
The Air Force faxed a statement to The Herald Wednesday morning, which said the Air Force and Air Force Recruiting Service “will not tolerate inappropriate conduct,” and indicated Germain has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
“We take this possible breach of integrity very seriously,” wrote Lt. Col. Per Saelid, 332nd Air Force Recruiting Squadron commander.
According to David Steinbicker, Jackson County Schools personnel director, Germain was employed as a substitute teacher and non-staff assistant coach during the past school year only. Both of those assignments require background checks, he said.
Germain also volunteered with the Cub Scouts and is a registered Scout leader who worked with Troop 999 at Sylva’s Methodist Church, according to Steve Taylor, CEO for Western North Carolina Boy Scouts. To qualify, Germain was required to undergo a criminal background check and complete the Boy Scouts’ youth protection training, Taylor said.
“We’re shocked,” Taylor said of the charges against Germain. “We had nothing that gave us any indication.”
Taylor emphasized that the charges Germain faces did not happen in a Boy Scout setting.
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