Two charged with sex crimes

By Staff
Melissa Cason
RED BAY – The Franklin County Sheriff's Department arrested two men for sex crimes late Wednesday night.
Franklin County Sheriff Larry Plott said Buddy Wes Barker, 74, of 375 Highway 32 in Vina, was arrested and charged with 12 counts of first-degree sexual abuse which allegedly occurred over a period of three years.
"We received a call from the Red Bay Hospital informing us that a victim had sustained injuries [due to sexual abuse by force]," Plott said.
Investigators made another arrest Wednesday night. Cody Alan Payton, 18, of Homewood Apartments No. 3 in Red Bay, was arrested and charged with first-degree sodomy by force, Plott said.
Investigators did not indicate whether the arrests were connected, but did say that the victim is both cases are being treated for severe trauma. No other information about the victims were released.
Both Barker and Payton are in the Franklin County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.