David Gregory Graham was arrested Tuesday and charged with first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree sexual assault, sexual abuse by a parent and incest.
Senior Trooper J.K. Cox of the Mason County Detachment of the West Virginia State Police was the arresting officer.
According to the criminal complaint filed Tuesday, troopers were given probable cause to believe that between the dates of June 8, 1986 and June 14, 1986, an incident took place in Mason County between the then-36-year-old Graham and his wife’s son, 9-year-old Courtenay Shae Graham, at Graham’s residence, where Graham allegedly sexually assaulted, sexually abused and committed incest with Courtenay Graham.
Cox received a typed statement from Courtenay Graham that detailed the incident and a verbal statement from the mother, Vivian Fridley Herford. Herford said that after she received information from her son that a crime had been committed, she confronted David Graham and he admitted to the crime. The three of them attended counseling as a result.
Cox spoke with the accused Graham, who confirmed Herford’s statement, and said he attended counseling for sexual issues.
According to Dr. Larry Parsons, superintendent of Mason County Schools, Graham resigned as Wahama’s principal Wednesday, May 13. This was Graham’s second year as principal at the school, where he also previously served as assistant principal and a teacher.
“The school system has been involved with cooperating with the state police for a brief period of time,” Parsons said. “(Graham’s) resignation is shocking ... And it is unfortunate with it being this close to graduation that we are dealing with his resignation.”
Parsons added that Roger Keefer has agreed to serve in the capacity of the secondary administrator of WHS for the remainder of year.
David Graham was arraigned by Magistrate Gail Roush and released on $100,000 bond.
As the legal issues are addressed the community must heal. Parents and students alike must talk and listen to each other.
For each of us the world goes on and within every crisis there lies an opportunity for learning, healing and personal growth.
A victim has wounds...a survivor has scars..
Go White Falcons.