A Bledsoe County man was indicted by the Rhea County Grand Jury on Oct. 6 on charges of aggravated sexual battery involving a 9-year-old Rhea County boy.

The parents brought the boy to the Rhea County Sheriff's Department on Aug. 23, according to Rocky Potter, who investigates crimes against children for the sheriff's department.

The boy told investigators he had been molested by Ted Andrews, 67, who had lived in the Cranmore Cove community west of Dayton until recently, Potter said.

The parents told the investigator that Andrews was a friend of the family and had become like a surrogate grandfather to the boy. He had frequently been to his house to play computer games and even spend the night.

About a year ago the boy was spending the night at Andrews' home and on two occasions Andrews touched the boy inappropriately. Both times the boy asked him to stop, and Andrews did, according to Potter.

“He didn't tell his parents then because he was embarrassed,” Potter said.

Shortly after that Andrews moved to Bledsoe County and didn't have much contact with the family.

But in August, he allegedly invited the boy and his sister to his Bledsoe County home to go swimming in a pond on the property. While swimming he reportedly touched the boy inappropriately again, according to Potter.

During questioning, Andrews confessed, according to Potter.

The Rhea County Grand Jury issued an original indictment for two counts of aggravated sexual battery against Andrews.

Additional charges are pending against Andrews in Bledsoe County, according to Potter.

John Carpenter can be reached at jcarpenter@xtn.net.