Payne County Man Charged With Sexually Abusing Children

A Payne County man has been charged with sexually abusing kids in his neighborhood.

Yale Police say 78-year-old Lionel Thompson was arrested in March and is accused of inappropriate behavior with two young girls. Thompson bonded out of jail but is charged with several felonies including three counts of sexual battery.

Court documents say the investigation began after a mother called Yale Police to report her two daughters had been molested by a man in their neighborhood. Yale's Police Chief says Thompson was known as the grandpa of the neighborhood.

"He would help all the children out in the area with fixing their bikes or candy that sort of thing," said Chief Phillip Kelly.

Yale Police got a search warrant to get Thompson's cellphone, computers, and security camera hard drive to send to the OSBI.