Barbour County man arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a juvenile in his care

BUCKHANNON — A Barbour County man who is listed on the West Virginia State Police’s Sex Offender Registry has been arrested for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor in his care.

Kenneth D. Call, 52, of Belington, W.Va., was arrested Thursday on one felony count of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or other person in a position of trust to a child.

Investigating officer Cpl. B.K. Wright with the Buckhannon detachment of the West Virginia State Police said the charge stems from incidents involving an adult victim who recently came forward about the past sexual abuse.

“The victim is an adult female now who came forward and disclosed that Kenneth Call had abused her at a juvenile age, and he has confessed,” Wright said Friday morning.

Wright said Call is now facing just one count, but more could be forthcoming. The alleged sexual abuse occurred between 2011-2015 in Upshur County, the officer said.

The W.Va. State Police Sex Offender Registry shows that Call has a prior conviction date of Sept. 10, 1997, on three counts of third-degree sexual assault involving a female acquaintance. He served 2 ½ years in a state correctional facility.

Call is being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond, according to the W.Va. Regional Jail and Correctional Facilities Authority.

The penalty for a conviction of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or other person in a position of trust is imprisonment in a state penitentiary for not less than 10 nor more than 20 years; or a fine ranging between $500 and $5,000 and imprisoned in the state penitentiary for 10-20 years.