Berkeley County officials said Talhelm also had worked for an arson investigation team, although Newcomb said he believed Talhelm had resigned from that organization.
The arson investigation team is made up of individuals who have taken courses in arson investigation, said Steve Allen, director of the Berkeley County Office of Emergency Services.
Allen said Talhelm also worked for his office as a hazardous materials technician.
But Talhelm has not been working at the volunteer job because of an injury, Allen said.
Allen said Talhelm was one of the first hazardous materials technicians to work for his department and has been doing the work for about 10 years.
The other person charged in the extortion case was Virginia Frick, 41, of Martinsburg, Harmon said.
Frick faces the same charges as Talhelm, Harmon said.
Jail officials said Frick was not being held there.
Harmon said he met with a man on May 4 who alleged Frick and a male known as "E.T." had been extorting money from him between 2002 and 2005, according to a criminal complaint provided by Harmon.
The man said he and Frick had a sexual relationship which began in 2002 but the man wanted to end it because of his marriage, the complaint stated.
The man said he told Frick of his decision to end the relationship shortly after Frick wanted him to sign as a primary holder on a loan for a car, the complaint said.
In the summer of 2002, Frick contacted the victim and demanded $500 from him. In making the demand, Frick said she was prepared to make public that the man raped her, the complaint said.
Frick said she had a sample of the victim's DNA and she was going to take it to authorities if he did not pay the money, the complaint said.
The man paid the money.
Frick demanded $500 again and the victim paid it because he didn't want his wife to know, the complaint said.
A man later identifying himself as "E.T." contacted the victim by telephone and said he was an affiliate of Frick, the complaint said.
"E.T." also claimed he worked for a law firm and that he was a "clerk of the court," the complaint stated.
"E.T." demanded $6,000, saying it was for court costs and legal fees as a result of Flick starting to file paperwork on the rape claim, the complaint said.
The victim paid the money.
In the latter part of 2003, "E.T." contacted the victim and demanded $6,000 again, the complaint said. "E.T." said paperwork regarding the rape charge was going to be sent to the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney's Office if the money was not paid, the complaint said.
The victim gave "E.T." the $6,000 on Nov. 8, 2004, the complaint said.
Last month, the victim received a call from "E.T.," who said the victim had to pay $6,500, the complaint said.
The victim then called police, the complaint said.
