ISLE OF WIGHT—An Isle of Wight County sheriff’s deputy facing felony charges for alleged sexual acts with a teenage girl is back at work performing administrative duties, Sheriff C.W. “Charlie” Phelps said.

Sgt. Ronald Carwile was arrested in Franklin in March for the alleged incidents, which are said to have occurred between September 2009 and January 2010. He was placed on administrative leave following the charges pending the outcome of an administrative investigation by the sheriff’s office, Phelps said.

Carwile has since returned to work, but is not participating in law enforcement activities, Phelps said.

The preliminary hearing — where a judge will decide if there is sufficient evidence for the case to move forward — is scheduled for January in Franklin Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

Because Carwile’s defense attorneys have indicated they plan to call Southampton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Cooke as a witness, Cooke’s office is not handling the case.

Kim White, the commonwealth’s attorney in Halifax County, is prosecuting Carwile.