Deputies Arrest Dibble Volunteer Teacher Accused of Lewd Acts with Children

A former volunteer teacher at a church-run school in Dibble accused of engaging in lewd acts with children, is in custody and on his way back to McClain County.

Thursday, September 9th 2010, 3:24 pm

By: News 9


By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

PURCELL, Oklahoma -- A former volunteer teacher at a church-run school in Dibble accused of engaging in lewd acts with children, is in custody in McClain County.

After learning he was under investigation, authorities said Dale Alan Elledge packed his stuff, sold his house and moved to far southeast Oklahoma where he's been on the run.

However,  Elledge, 73, was taken into custody Wednesday night in Pushmataha County.

Elledge arrived in Purcell at about noon Thursday and was arraigned by a judge less than three hours later.

Elledge's son and son-in-law were in court as the judge set Elledge's bond at $25,000 and was instructed to stay away from his alleged victims. 

The District Attorney's Office requested the bond to be set at $75,000, but Elledge's attorney argued Elledge suffers from several medical conditions including dementia and Alzheimer's.

"We are concerned obviously with any crime of this nature of making sure there is an appropriate bond to making sure the defendant will re-appear in court.

The District Attorney of McClain County has charged Elledge with six felony counts involving children whose ages ranged from 7 to 9-years-old at the time of the offenses," said Assistant District Attorney George Burnett.

Authorities said Elledge worked as a teacher's assistant at a K-12 school known as the Word of Life Academy in Dibble.

The alleged crimes occurred on school grounds between 1998 and 2005. The children, at least six of them were Elledge's former students, told investigators Elledge threatened to kill them and their mothers if they ever revealed what had happened.

"It keeps the families and the victims, I would say nervous. They want some closure... some resolution, and Mr. Elledge now has an opportunity to do that," said  Lt. Dan Huff, McClain County Sheriff's Office.

Elledge appeared in the courtroom via a video feed from the McClain County jail and said nothing related to the case or the charges he's facing. His attorney had no comment following the arraignment.

The U.S. Marshalls found Elledge in Antlers, Oklahoma by tracking his medical and social security records.

More:

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

September 9th, 2010

March 14th, 2024

December 4th, 2023

September 25th, 2023

Top Headlines

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024