May 9, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga -- The Richmond County Sheriff's Office arrested 37-year-old Anthony Shelton this morning. Shelton, a former band director at Butler High School, is charged with child molestation and sexual assault. Shelton and his attorney went to the Law Enforcement Center and Shelton was taken into custody after an interview with investigators.

According to a sheriff's office news release, one 15-year-old victim stated she had sex with Shelton six to eight times in his office. A 16-year-old victim stated she had sex with Shelton three times, also in his office. A third victim, 15 years old, stated that she went to sleep on the couch in Shelton's office and woke up to find Shelton fondling her breasts.

The sheriff's office also reports obtaining statements from at least three other female students who say Shelton made sexually explicit comments to them, but that they had not had any physical contact with him.

According to an incident report filed with the Sheriff's Office last week, one 16-year-old's mother alleges Shelton had sex with her daughter six to eight times a week in the band room. She also alleges Shelton would pull her daughter out of class and that her child even knew that Shelton kept the condoms hidden in his desk drawer.