JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4JAX has obtained the arrest report for James Mulvey, shedding light on what deputies say led to his arrest on a felony charge involving a student at Baldwin Middle-Senior High School.
Mulvey, 47, a social studies teacher at the school, was taken into custody by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on May 22. According to jail records, he bonded out Saturday. He faces a second-degree felony charge of offenses against students by authority figures.
Emails at the center of the case
Detectives say emails were exchanged between Mulvey and the juvenile victim through their school email accounts. According to the arrest report, Mulvey wrote to the victim:
“I won’t forget about you. I don’t want to forget about you. I won’t replace you, I don’t want to replace you. My heart remains open to you and will stay that way for as long as you allow me to be a part of your life. And I will happily say that whenever you need to hear it sweetheart.”
According to the report, a second email from Mulvey read: “I love you too, baby. You’re my girl. I’m not going anyplace. Thank you for being my person.”
As the school year drew to a close, the arrest report states Mulvey asked the juvenile victim to share her personal email address so they could continue communicating over the summer.
How the investigation unfolded
The investigation began after a concerned student brought a series of emails between Mulvey and the juvenile victim to the attention of school officials. Police say multiple students provided written statements describing what they characterized as an unusual relationship between the teacher and the student, including gifts and special attention.
JSO Special Assault Unit detectives responded to the juvenile victim’s home May 21, where the victim disclosed the ongoing relationship with Mulvey in a recorded interview, according to the arrest report.
Mulvey was interviewed by detectives and waived his right to have an attorney present and agreed to speak with investigators.
According to the arrest report, Mulvey admitted to having an ongoing relationship with the victim, saying he loves her and views her as a daughter. Police say he denied any sexual intent but acknowledged having “poor judgement” in his communications with her.
‘The Mulvey Files’
In the days following the arrest, students began circulating what one student called “The Mulvey Files” — a Google Drive compiling what appeared to be inappropriate emails exchanged between Mulvey and a student.
News4JAX reviewed portions of the website but is not publishing the contents of the messages because the investigation is ongoing and the student involved may be a minor.
The student who created the website said the goal was to organize information already circulating among students.
“I want people to see the things that he was saying and doing,” the student told News4JAX.
The student previously had Mulvey as a teacher and described him as someone students generally trusted.
“He was the chill teacher who everyone thought of as a ‘dad,’” the student said.
The student who reviewed the alleged messages said they initially tried to interpret the conversations as innocent before becoming alarmed.
“I was trying to play it off as a father-daughter relationship,” the student said. “But after I read through them, it was like, OK, this is weird.”
School responds, district reassigns Mulvey
In a message sent to families Friday, Principal Mike Townsend described the allegations as “deeply concerning” while emphasizing that Mulvey is presumed innocent as investigations continue.
Townsend told parents Mulvey had been removed from campus and reassigned to a position without student contact, pending both a criminal investigation and an internal district investigation.
Duval County Public Schools confirmed Mulvey remained employed by the district but was reassigned away from students while the investigations are active.
His next court appearance is scheduled for June 11.