Calumet Man Jailed On Child Sex Complaints

A Calumet man is in the Canadian County Jail accused of preying on a 15-year-old boy and deputies said they only found out when the victim was brave enough to come forward.

Virgil Putnam, 62, was arrested on Tuesday. Investigators said Putnam sexually abused the boy at his Calumet home over the weekend.

“It was a 911 call that came in and it was this 15-year-old boy calling and he was calling for help,” said Canadian County Undersheriff Chris West.

Investigators said Putnam gave the teen alcohol to get him drunk, then got the boy to pull his pants down and grabbed the boy's genitals. West said Putnam offered the boy $10 to do it.

According to the sheriff's office, the boy was able to get out of the house when Putnam passed out. He called 911 and deputies found the boy wandering down State Highway 66, still intoxicated from the alcohol he was given.

“Basically [the boy was] an emotional wreck and distraught from what had transpired,” said West.

West said it took a while to get the boy to open up about what happened.

“There's definitely emotional trauma that happens after something like that occurs and so it took a little time for the deputy to win his confidence,” West explained.

The Canadian County Sheriff's Office arrested Putnam and said he admitted to everything. Investigators are now looking into whether Putnam has sexually abused before.

“We've taken this child predator off the streets and out of circulation, but this young man will probably have issues for the rest of his life,” West told News 9.

Putnam was booked on complaints of Committing Lewd or Indecent Acts Upon A Child. His bond was set at $50,000.