A staff attorney for Alabama's Governor Kay Ivey was arrested on Wednesday on a child solicitation charge.
Chase Tristian Espy, 36, of Vestavia Hills was booked into the Jefferson County Jail just before 9:30 pm on August 25 on a felony charge of child solicitation by computer. He posted a $30,000 bond and was released just before 2 am on Thursday.
The Birmingham attorney served as deputy general counsel for Gov. Ivey's administration. Ivey's office confirmed on Thursday morning that he had been fired.
Chase Tristian Espy, 36, was booked into the Jefferson County Jail just before 9:30 pm on Wednesday, August 25 on a felony charge for child solicitation by computer
Espy had been working for the governor's office since about May, according to personnel records.
He also practiced with Birmingham law firm Balch & Bingham. Julie Wall Khoury, a spokeswoman for Balch & Bingham, said in a statement following his arrest that Espy 'was terminated by Balch & Bingham nearly one year ago.'
His LinkedIn page has been taken down.
According to jail records, Homewood police arrested Espy on the charge for an incident that allegedly took place on March 25 at midnight.
Homewood police Sgt. John Carr confirmed to The Birmingham News that Espy was arrested by the department's Special Investigations Unit.
No additional information was released, but Carr said the operation is part of an ongoing effort by the Homewood Police Department to combat crimes involving the exploitation of children.
Gov. Ivey's office confirmed that he was terminated the day after his arrest and worked in the office 'for only a few months'
The department would not release Espy's arrest record for the sex crime. He does not appear to have any other criminal filings.
Ivery's office released a statement: 'The allegations against Mr. Espy are serious, tragic and shocking. While he was employed by our office for only a few months, Mr. Espy has been terminated.'
'As this is an ongoing investigation, no further information is available at this time.'