Corbin man charged with sex abuse

A Corbin man was jailed Friday afternoon on charges of first-degree sexual abuse.

Dennis D. Dalton, 63, of 1365 Master Street in Corbin, was arrested at 12:24 p.m. Friday by Laurel County Sheriff's Detective Chris Edwards and Sgt. Brett Reeves.

The press release from the Laurel County Sheriff's Office states that Dalton was taken into custody in London but no details on the victim's age or circumstances of the alleged offense were listed. It does state, however, that representatives with the Cabinet for Families and Children's Department for Community Based Services were involved in the investigation.

First-degree sexual abuse is defined under Kentucky law as: (1) A person is guilty of sexual abuse in the first-degree when: (a) He or she subjects another person to sexual contact by forcible compulsion; or (b He or she subjects another person to sexual contact who is incapable of consent because he or she: 1. Is physically helpless; 2. Is less than twelve (12) years old; or 3. Is mental incapacitated; or (c) Being twenty-one (21) year old or more, he or she: 1. Subjects another person who is less than sixteen (16) years old to sexual contact; 2. Engages in masturbation in the presence of another person who is less than sixteen (16) years old or has no reason to know the other person is present.

The other situations defining first-degree sexual abuse applies to persons who are in a position of authority or special trust who subjects a minor under age 18 to sexual contact of any form. This applies to sexual self-gratification and includes communication over the Internet, telephone, or other electronic communication devices.

First-degree sexual abuse is a Class D felony, which carries a 1 to 5 year prison sentence, unless the victim is under 12 years of age, which bumps the offense up a level to a Class C felony. A Class C felony carries a 5 to 10 year prison sentence.