Corbin man charged with sexual abuse

A Corbin man has pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree sexual abuse.

Sixty-three-year-old Dennis Dalton, who was arrested last Friday, was arraigned Monday in Laurel District Court.

Dalton is scheduled to return to court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is probable cause to present the case to a Laurel County grand jury.

Bond was set at $100,000 cash with the additional condition that Dalton have no contact with the alleged victim.

Laurel County Sheriff’s Detective Chris Edwards and Sgt. Brett Reeves arrested Dalton about 12:30 p.m. at the sheriff’s department in London.

According to the arrest citation, Dalton allegedly subjected the victim to sexual contact on several occasions and compelled the victim to watch pornography.

According to the Legislative Research Commission website, Kentucky law defines first-degree sexual abuse as using forcible compulsion subjecting to subject a person to physical contact.

The law also applies if the victim is incapable of consent, under the age of 16 and the accused is 21 or older, or in a position of authority.

Under Kentucky law, first-degree sexual abuse is a Class D felony, carrying a potential prison sentence of one to five years.