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St. Albans man accused of sexually abusing boys

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By Elaina Sauber

A St. Albans man was arrested Friday after a "lengthy investigation" showed he sexually abused two boys about a decade ago, said police.

Donnie J. Sparks, 63, was arrested by St. Albans Police Sgt. M.K. Elkins at his home on Thursday, according to a news release from the police department. He faces two charges of third-degree sexual assault.

Two men allege that Sparks abused them while they were in their early teens, police said. The written statements from the men detail accusations of oral sex and intimidation, including threats to kill one of the accusers, police said.

St. Albans Police Capt. James Agee said the alleged assaults would have occurred between 2004 and 2007.

"Other allegations have come forward about him ... five to eight years ago," Agee said, "but nobody was willing to go on the record."

According to police, Sparks allegedly provided the boys with cigarettes, pills and marijuana, and the boys texted naked photos to him.

For several years, Sparks was a basketball coach for St. Albans youth leagues, police said. He was also a member of St. Albans High School's Local School Improvement Council in 2000 and 2001, at one point serving as its vice president, according to a previous report.

One of the accusers said Sparks initially approached him at a baseball game in St. Albans, while the other said Sparks befriended him and started buying him things. Both allege that the abuse took place at Sparks' home and office, in the 500 block of 6th Avenue.

Sparks was arraigned Friday and was released on a $75,000 surety bond, police said.

Police believe there are several other victims who have not come forward, and want them to contact Elkins or any St. Albans police officer. "We've had accusations made by other adult men who were juveniles at the time," Agee said.

Reach Elaina Sauber at elaina.sauber@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-3051 or follow @ElainaSauber on Twitter.


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