Former Boy Scout Leader Charged With Sexual Assault

EXETER, R.I. -- Rhode Island State Police are seeking the public's help in an ongoing investigation into the reported sexual assault of a disabled man.

Police say they made an arrest in connection with the investigation on Thursday afternoon. The suspect, James Glawson, 74, of Exeter was taken into custody and charged with three counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree sexual assault.

At a press conference Friday afternoon, Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Barry, acting chief of the state police, said that they cannot release many details on the investigation at this time, as it is ongoing.

According to police, Glawson was active in the Boy Scouts and has been associated with the organization since 1980. He was also served within the Catholic church, serving as an assistant chaplain and Eucharistic minister at the St. Bosco chapel at the Yawgoog Boy Scout summer camp in Hopkinton from 2012 to 2018. Glawson is also affiliated with two other Rhode Island churches, police say, the Immaculate Conception church in Westerly and St. Bernard church in North Kingstown.

"Although these charges have been filed, we are still investigating the possibility of additional victims," Barry said.

Anyone with information in connection with the case is urged to contact the state police's detective division at 401-764-5346, including anyone who may have been in contact with Glawson in the past.

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Philbin said the assaults were reported to have occurred over the "past several years."

According to Philbin, the Department of Children, Youth and Families brought the complaint to the attention of the state police after becoming concerned over the treatment of one of their residents, the victim.

Both the Diocese of Providence and the Boy Scouts of America are reportedly cooperating with the investigation.

The state police's mobile crime lab could be see at Glawson's Widow Sweets Road home on Friday, where officials say they are continuing to investigate and collect evidence.

Glawson was held overnight in State Police headquarters and arraigned Friday morning in Fourth District Court, where he was ordered held without bail.

Photo Credit: Rhode Island State Police