PUTNAM CO., Tenn. (WTVF) — Police arrested and charged 65-year-old Dale Burbank for statutory rape by an authority figure.
Police say on Thursday, February 20, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) received a referral from the Department of Children Services (DCS) regarding a juvenile at Mustard Seed Ranch (MSR).
The PCSO Criminal Investigation Division conducted a forensic interview on Friday, February 21, which gave them enough probable cause for a search warrant.
Around 8 p.m. on Friday, PCSO searched MSR located on Kuykendall Rd in Putnam County.
His bond was set at $70,000 and has a court date of March 31, 2025.
Sheriff Farris stated, “The Mustard Seed Ranch has been operating in our community since 2006. It is a highly respected Christian based Residential Licensed Child Care Agency, and it has helped many children in our community over the years. This is a bad, hopefully isolated incident, that took place while a child was in a short-term care at this facility. If anyone has any information regarding this incident please contact PCSO Detective Boyer at (931) 528-8484.”
If you have more information about this story, please email me at Kendrick.Wright@newschannel5.com.
