Additional Sexual Assault and Child Molestation Charges Filed Against Former Boy Scout Camp Assistant Chaplain
James Glawson is charged with first-degree sexual assault, first-degree child molestation and second-degree
child molestation after additional victims came forward during the ongoing investigation.
James Glawson, age 74, of 101 Widow Sweets Road, Exeter, today was charged with:
- First-degree sexual assault
- First-degree child molestation
- Second-degree child molestation
Mr. Glawson will continue to be held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions as a result of these and previous charges. The new charges were filed earlier today, when Mr. Glawson was brought to Fourth Division District Court in Wakefield for a status hearing on the previous charges.
“These new charges resulted from interviews with additional alleged victims who have come forward since Mr. Glawson was initially arrested,” Colonel Manni said. “This is an active, ongoing investigation. We continue to pursue all leads and will bring additional charges, if warranted. We strongly encourage anyone who may have information and/or additional complaints related to this individual and/or this investigation to call the Rhode Island State Police Detective Division at 401-764-5346.”
Mr. Glawson was first arrested on February 14, following an investigation into a complaint that he had allegedly sexually assaulted an 18-year-old disabled male on numerous occasions over a period of several years.
During the course of their investigation, detectives learned that Mr. Glawson had been affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America from 1980 through 2018. He also served as an assistant Catholic chaplain and Eucharistic minister at the St. John Bosco Chapel at Yawgoog Scout Reservation, a summer camp in Hopkinton that is run by the Narragansett Council of the Boy Scouts of America, from 2012 to 2018. In addition, Mr. Glawson was affiliated with the St. Bernard Church in North Kingstown and the Immaculate Conception Church in Westerly.
Over the past two months, several additional alleged victims have since come forward. As a result, Mr. Glawson was charged on the following dates with the below charges:
February 14: Three counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree sexual assault involving the 18-year-old disabled man.
March 6: Eight counts of first-degree sexual assault involving three alleged victims and one count of possession of pornography.
Today: One count of first-degree sexual assault, one count of second-degree sexual assault and one count of first-degree child molestation involving one victim.
Colonel Manni noted that some of these charges date back to the 1980s, when the alleged victims knew Mr. Glawson because of his involvement with the Boy Scouts and / or his role at the Yawgoog Scout Reservation, a Boy Scout camp in Richmond.
Under Rhode Island General Law, there is no statute of limitations for first-degree sexual assault, first-degree child molestation or second-degree child molestation.
Colonel Manni stressed that this is an ongoing criminal investigation, with the assistance of the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General. The Diocese of Providence and the Boy Scouts of America also have been cooperating with the investigation.
Anyone with information and/or complaints related to this investigation to call the Rhode Island State Police Detective Division at 401-764-5346.
Peg Langhammer, Executive Director of Day One, a support and advocacy group for victims of sexual abuse and violence, said her agency is available as a resource for anyone impacted by this case. Day One provides support for victims, as well as assistance in navigating the court process. Contact Day One at 401-421-4100, ext. 138 or online at dayoneri.org.
Under Rhode Island General Laws, the following penalties apply to the above charges:
11-37-3. Penalty for first-degree sexual assault.
Every person who shall commit sexual assault in the first-degree shall be imprisoned for a period not less than ten (10) years and may be imprisoned for life.
Penalty for second-degree sexual assault.
Every person who shall commit sexual assault in the second-degree shall be imprisoned for not less than three (3) years and not more than fifteen (15) years.
Penalty for first-degree child molestation sexual assault.
Every person who shall commit first-degree child molestation sexual assault shall be imprisoned for a period of not less than twenty-five (25) years and may be imprisoned for life.
Penalty for second-degree child molestation sexual assault.
Every person who shall commit second-degree child molestation sexual assault shall be imprisoned for not less than six (6) years nor more than thirty (30) years.
Penalty for Possession of Child Pornography:
Anyone convicted of producing, mailing, transporting, delivery, transferring or reproducing child pornography, or anyone who knowingly possesses any book, magazine, periodical, film, videotape, computer disc, computer file or any other material that contains an image of child pornography shall be subject to a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisoned for not more than fifteen (15) years, or both.