Charles David Pugh
Police say 45-year-old Charles David Pugh may have had at least eight sexual abuse victims.
The statute of limitations has expired on many of the alleged incidents, but Pugh was arrested Monday on a charge of aggravated statutory rape, it was stated.
Police said a youth who is now 20 said he was raped by Pugh on numerous occasions at Pugh's then residence at 3936 Churchill Road.
He said the last time he was allegedly orally sodomized by Pugh was between Nov. 1, 2010, and Dec. 23, 2010.
Pugh now lives at 315 James Blvd., Signal Mountain, according to information he gave the jail.
Police said Pugh was employed "in a capacity that placed him in a position of trust and limited authority over young men."
He worked as an engineer at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
The TVRM issued this statement:
"Several months ago the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum was made aware that former employee Charles David Pugh, an engineer and shop machinist, was under investigation for possible criminal charges pertaining to activities outside of his employment at TVRM.
"Upon our being notified of the investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department in July, Mr. Pugh’s employment was promptly terminated. We have not been further notified of any details of the charges, and thus are unable to make any further comment at this time."
The sheriff's office said on June 6 it received a sexual abuse report from the Tennessee Department of Children's Services.
The affidavit against Pugh says, "In the report eight males were identified as possible victims of sexual abuse by Charles David Pugh."
An investigator said he spoke to at least three of the alleged victims "and could have developed probable cause warranting criminal charges or grand jury presentment, but the statute of limitations had expired."