Local Man Arrested on Sexual Abuse Charges

By Matt Armstrong
The Journal
March 2, 2012

http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/576010/Local-man-arrested-on-sexual-abuse-charges.html?nav=5006

CHARLES TOWN - A Harpers Ferry man was arrested earlier this week and arraigned on several felony sexual abuse charges in Jefferson County Magistrate Court, according to court records.

Brian Scott Whitehair, 47, was arrested following an investigation by the West Virginia State Police Charles Town Detachment and the Harpers Ferry Police Department. He was charged with six felony counts of first degree sexual abuse and one misdemeanor count of third degree sexual abuse of juveniles, records show.

Whitehair confessed to sexually abusing three victims officers previously had interviewed, in addition to two other victims.

Patrolman M.T. Schul, with the HFPD, was notified on Sunday of a sexual abuse complaint filed by the mother of a victim. The complaint alleged that, earlier in the day, at a Harpers Ferry church, Whitehair sexually abused the victim in a vacant room, records show.

The victim's mother also told officers another of her children admitted to being abused by Whitehair the same day.

The second victim advised officers that Whitehair had committed the abuse on several occasions over the past two years and that the victim believed Whitehair abused at least two other victims, records show.

Whitehair was arraigned Thursday and assigned a $50,000 bond, with the condition that he could have no contact with anyone under 18 years old. Whitehair was released on bond later in the day Thursday.

- Staff writer Matt Armstrong can be reached at 304-725-6581, or marmstrong@journal-news.net