Published: June 19, 2009 04:33 pm      

Grapeland man arrested for alleged indecency with a child charge

PALESTINE — A 59-year-old Grapeland man was arrested Thursday for allegedly fondling his 8-year-old granddaughter the previous day in Anderson County.

Samuel Lee Cupa, 59, of Grapeland was arrested shortly after 7:30 p.m. Thursday by Houston County authorities on an Anderson County warrant on the felony charge of indecency with a child, according to Anderson County sheriff's Sgt. Wendell Wilcher.

Cupa's warrant had a pre-set bond of $100,000 set by Anderson County Justice of the Peace James Westley.

Following his arrest in Grapeland, Cupa was transported to the Houston County Jail in Crockett, according to Wilcher.

"We're going to have to have him magistrated before we can pick him up," Wilcher said.

The investigator said Houston County is also investigating the possibility of a similar offense involving Cupa and the same victim in their jurisdiction.

Wilcher said the 8-year-old girl made an "outcry" to her mother on Wednesday after the incident allegedly occurred earlier in the day.

"Allegedly, he came over to the victim's house in Anderson County," Wilcher explained. "He had his granddaughter sit in his lap and fondled her."

The girl's mother subsequently contacted Anderson County sheriff's authorities, according to the investigator.

A SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) exam was performed on the alleged victim, while a forensic interview was also conducted, he added.



Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com