Retired Roanoke College Professor, Minister Faces New Child Sex Abuse Indictment

By Duncan Adams
Roanoke Times
August 8, 2012

http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/312529

Salem resident Guy Adam Ritter, 92, faces an additional indictment related to charges of child sexual abuse of boys that allegedly occurred decades ago in Botetourt County.

Ritter is a prominent alumnus of Roanoke College, a former professor there and an ordained Lutheran minister, according to a college biography of him.

A Botetourt County grand jury indicted Ritter Monday for crimes against nature, which was the relevant statute at the time of the alleged offense, reported to have occurred in the county in 1958.

A county grand jury indicted Ritter June 4 by on five counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. Those offenses allegedly occurred during the 1970s.

Subsequent press coverage led the alleged victim in the 1958 case to contact prosecutors, said Botetourt County Commonwealth’s Attorney Joel Branscom.

Branscom said Ritter turned himself in Tuesday and was released on bond.

John Lichtenstein, an attorney representing Ritter, released a statement this evening in an email.

"We understand this to be an accusation which allegedly occurred in 1958," Lichtenstein wrote. "Mr. Ritter is 92 years old. We are working to investigate these matters and look forward to helping Mr. Ritter."