Additional charges filed against Gadsden Man

Roy Dean Pruett

Etowah County investigators filed additional sexual abuse charges Friday against a former employee of a juvenile care facility.  Deputies arrested 61-year-old Roy Dean Pruett on Thursday afternoon.  The initial charges were two counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old and two counts of first-degree sodomy.  A third victim reported abuse after Pruett's arrest, and investigators added an additional charge of first degree sexual abuse.
Sheriffs department spokeswoman Natalie Barton said that There are multiple children involved and the investigation is ongoing.  She said There could be additional children involved.   Deputies said Friday that the abuse happened at Pruett's home in Gadsden.  Until recently, he was employed as activity director of the Eagle Rock Boys Ranch, a group home for at-risk boys between the ages of nine and 19 years old.  Investigators declined to comment on whether the victims were juveniles at Eagle Rock, but said the abuse did not take place at the juvenile care facility.
Eagle Rock executive director Scott Hilton said he terminated Pruett's employment earlier in July for reasons unrelated to the accusations of sexual abuse.  
The victims told investigators the abuse began in November 2012.