Highfill Mayor Stacy Digby was arrested this morning in connection with having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old
girl, according to Sgt. Shannon Jenkins with the Benton County Sheriff’s
Office.
In January, the Benton County Sheriff's Office announced it was
investigating Digby on the possibility of an inappropriate relationship
between him and a juvenile.
Digby, 44, faces felony charges of sexual indecency with a
child and first-degree sexual assault.
Digby resigned this morning shortly before being arrested. Stacie Williamson,
the Highfill recorder/treasurer, will now serve as interim mayor.
Russ Hall, the pastor, told investigators the leadership
position is similar to that of an elder in other denominations, adding that lay
leaders often represent the Methodist church at state and national events,
according to a probable cause affidavit.
It is believed that the juvenile attended services at the church and Digby had contact with her there.
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| HIGHFILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND ITS PASTOR, RUSS HALL |
Residents had approached city officials about concerns over
the mayor’s relationship with the girl, which began in 2014, according to the
affidavit.
Residents reported recently seeing the girl sitting on
Digby’s lap at a bowling alley. Another time a Highfill officer found the girl
in the mayor’s office around 1 a.m., according to the affidavit.
Highfill Police Chief Blake Webb asked for an outside agency
to investigate, and the sheriff’s office opened an investigation in January.
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| HIGHFILL POLICE CHIEF BLAKE WEBB |
On January 10th, the sheriff’s office searched Digby’s home on
Linwood Street, where they found pictures of the girl, her clothes and
medication.
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| DIGBY'S HOME IS NEXT DOOR TO THE HIGHFILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH |
One of the girl’s siblings later told deputies that Digby
would come to their house late at night and once sent the girl a picture of his
genitals, according to the affidavit.
Digby is being held at the Benton County Jail
with no bond set. He has a hearing set for May 7th in Benton County Circuit
Court.
