Whitwell man faces 45 counts of sexual abuse

photo Glenn Webster, 60, of Whitwell, Tenn.
Arkansas-Ole Miss Live Blog

A Whitwell, Tenn., man is facing 45 counts of rape and sexual battery involving a teenager over a two-year period, according to Marion County authorities.

A Marion County grand jury indicted Glenn Carlton Webster, 60, of 374 S. Elm St., on 15 counts each of statutory rape by an authority figure, aggravated statutory rape and sexual battery by an authority figure. He is free on $75,000 bond pending a July 17 hearing, Marion County Jail officials said.

Webster could not be reached by phone Friday, and court officials said he does not yet have an attorney on record. Officials say he is a triple amputee well-known for his participation in Scouting and civic activities.

The arrest stems from an investigation launched in September 2011, Marion County Sheriff's Detective Beth Schindel said Friday.

She said the alleged abuse started in the summer of 2008, when the male victim was 14, and continued until July 2010. She said the youth just turned 18.

The victim and his family are not from Marion County, and the abuse happened while they were visiting, she said.

"It started bothering him and he finally disclosed it to his mother," Schindel said. The mother encouraged the teen to go to authorities, she said.

The indictment filed June 4 in Marion County Criminal Court includes date ranges when the abuse allegedly occurred: six counts from June to August 2008; six counts each in November and December 2008; six in April 2009; six more between May and August 2009; six each in November and December 2009 and three counts between May and August 2010.

Schindel said the investigation is not connected to Webster's Scouting or civic activities as far as authorities know.

Authorities encourage anyone with information about the ongoing investigation or any other abuse to contact the Marion County Sheriff's Office at 423-942-2525.

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