University Dining employee Matthew Beaulieu, 26, had just finished serving a driver’s license restriction for marijuana possession in early September when he attempted to abduct a female University student Thursday evening, according to Charlottesville, Albemarle and Fluvanna General Court records. He has since been charged with intent to defile, a class two felony.
The student was walking down Stadium Road when Beaulieu attempted to pull her into his car. After she escaped and informed the authorities, students did not receive an email notifying them of the incident.
University Police Lt. Melissa Fielding said the student body was not warned of the incident because Beaulieu was picked up so quickly after the alleged attempted abduction occurred. “It’s the type of incident and whether or not there is an ongoing threat” which dictates if a message is sent to the student body, Fielding said. “And since this individual was apprehended very soon after the incident, no email was sent.”
Fielding said Beaulieu’s status as a University Dining employee did not affect whether or not a message was sent out to the general student body.
The University requires its employees to undergo criminal background checks before being hired or changing positions, according to its human resources website. The University also conducts drug tests on doctors, nurses, bus drivers and other employees in designated positions.
University spokesperson McGregor McCance said in an email the University’s current contract with Aramark requires background checks to be conducted for all non-student employees. “The University’s contract with Aramark requires Aramark to conduct a thorough employment reference check of potential employees and a criminal conviction record check of newly selected employees, except student employees,” McCance said.
University Dining is part of Aramark, a Philadelphia-based corporation that contracts with the University. The University may require, and has in the past required, contractors to adopt specific non-discriminatory clauses in hiring employees, according to an opinion released by then-Deputy Attorney General David Johnson in 2006.
“This Office has stated that it is inconsistent with the policy of the Procurement Act to condition award of a contract on factors that are unrelated to the goods or services being procured,” Johnson wrote. “There must exist a link between the factors asserted under ‘best value’ considerations and the need of the public body.”
Beaulieu worked at Runk Dining Hall. University Dining did not return multiple requests for comment.
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