ABLES SPRINGS, Texas — Kaufman County Sheriff's Office investigators have discovered another victim who has come forward with sexual abuse allegations against former Able Springs fire chief and community volunteer, Buddy Mann.
ABLES SPRINGS, Texas — Kaufman County Sheriff's Office investigators have discovered another victim who has come forward with sexual abuse allegations against former Able Springs fire chief and community volunteer, Buddy Mann.
According to arrest warrant and probable cause affidavits released today, Edward "Buddy" Mann has been charged with continuous sexual assault of a child under the age of 14. His bond was set at $200,000.
The allegations contain that the victim's family contacted law enforcement officials after hearing of Mann's initial arrest. According to the victim's interview with investigators the abuse happened regularly from the age of 12 to 14-15 years old. Mann had served as the victim's youth baseball coach. The victim is now an adult and lives outside of Kaufman County.
The victim told investigators that he asked Mann to stop the abuse every time it occurred, but was ignored.
Mann remains in the Kaufman County jail on charges from indecency with a child charges from October 2017 with a separate $200,000 bond on those charges.
UPDATE [Oct. 28] — An additional victim has come forward in the case against a former youth baseball coach, school volunteer, and recently resigned fire chief, according to the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office.
Edward "Buddy" Mann was released on bond after an arrest earlier this week for continuous sexual assault of a child under 14 years of age. Last night, he was arrested again and now faces an additional charge for indecency with a child by sexual contact and is being held on a $200,000 bond.
A second victim came forward and reported the contact to the sheriff's office, according to Kaufman County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Jolie Stewart.
ORIGINAL [Oct. 25] — Ables Springs Volunteer Fire Department Chief Edward “Buddy” Mann was arrested and charged with continuous sexual assault of a child under the age of 14, according to Kaufman County jail records.
Mann, in addition to his responsibilities with the fire department, was a youth baseball coach and volunteer athletic trainer at Terrell High School, according to Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jolie Stewart.
Stewart says investigators were made award of sexual abuse allegations by an individual who was 12 years old at the time of the offense. Mann was the child’s coach and had allegedly sexually abused him over the span of a couple of years.
Yesterday, Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office investigators executed search warrant at Mann’s home and the Ables Springs Volunteer Fire Department where Stewart says electronics and other digital media were seized.
“Investigators are working diligently to identify any other possible victims or those who may have information that could aid in this investigation,” she said.
Ables Springs Volunteer Fire Department Board of Directors President Peter Esposito says Mann has since submitted his resignation as chief of the department.
“Our main concern and objective is protecting the fire department,” he said in response to questions concerning the future of the department.
The board will convene during their regular schedule on the first Monday of November to discuss a replacement. In the meantime, Esposito says the responsibilities will likely be split between Assistant Chief Robert Irwin and some of the department’s current officers.
Mann was one of many founding members of the department. Colleagues say Mann wasn't known to do anything illegal, saying the news of his arrest was shocking.
Mann was arrested at his home and is being held on a $25,000 bond.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Investigator Jimmy Weisbruch at (972) 932-9735 at the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office.
Anonymous tipsters can contact the Kaufman County Crime Stoppers at (877) TIPS-KCC (847-7522) or www.kaufmancountycrimestoppers.org.
Stewart says the investigation remains ongoing.