Crime & Safety

Police: Elderly Salem Man May Have Been Abusing Kids for Years

A 72-year-old man has been arrested for frequently attempting to molest a child his wife babysat, and police say there could be other victims.

The husband of a Salem babysitter has been arrested as a possible serial child sex abuser for alleged sexual acts against at least one of the many children his wife has babysat in their home.

Ronald Libby, 72, of Salem, was arrested on a warrant for one count of aggravated felonious sexual assault: pattern sexual on Aug. 22, according to Salem Deputy Police Chief Shawn Patten.

Patten said the victim in that initial investigation, which started in 2012, is "unrelated" to the case that generated Libby's arrest warrant, and the "case remains very active" because police have identified "several other potential minor victims" that Libby may have abused "over the years," according to Patten.

Libby was charged because a victim reported Libby attempted to get the victim "on numerous occasions" to "touch him inappropriately" in addition to attempting to "touch the victim inappropriately," said Patten.

Libby was released on $50,000 personal recognizance bail following his arrest.

The Eagle-Tribune has reported that Libby’s wife has cared for an "estimated 50 children over the past 20 to 30 years."

Anyone with information relevant to this case or other potential victims is asked to contact Detective Brendan Gleason at (603) 890-2351.


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