PUTNAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A man was arrested Friday night for statutory rape following an incident at a Putnam County child care agency, according to officials.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) said it received a referral on Thursday, Feb. 20 from the Department of Children’s Services regarding a minor at the Mustard Seed Ranch. The following day, the PCSO Criminal Investigation Division completed a forensic interview, which reportedly provided enough probable cause for a search warrant.
Authorities said they executed the warrant at the Mustard Seed Ranch along Kuykendall Road at approximately 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21.
According to law enforcement, 65-year-old Dale Burbank — previously a Michigan native — was taken into custody and charged with statutory rape by an authority figure. His bond was set at $70,000 and his court date is scheduled for March 31.
“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,” Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said in a statement on Saturday, Feb. 22. “This is a bad, hopefully isolated incident, that took place while a child was in a short-term care at this facility.”
If you have any information about this incident, you’re asked to call Detective Mark Boyer at 931-528-8484.
No additional details have been released about the circumstances that led to Friday’s arrest.
