Man accused of molesting toddler

A Franklin County man is in custody after he reportedly confessed to inappropriately touching a small child.

Joshua Gibson, 24, 1971 Franklin 61, Spruce Pine, has been charged with first-degree sexual abuse, Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said.

According to Oliver, Gibson engaged in inappropriate contact with the two-year-old female victim when the mother left the child alone with him.

Oliver said his department was alerted to the abuse after the father of the child confronted Gibson about the relationship Gibson was involved in with the man’s ex-wife, who is also the child’s mother.

While admitting to the relationship with the man’s ex-wife, Gibson also admitted to the inappropriate behavior with the man’s two-year-old child, Oliver said.

According to investigators with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, they brought Gibson in for questioning where he again admitted to the abuse.

Gibson said he was drunk when the incident occurred, authorities said.

At press time, Gibson was still in custody at the Franklin County Jail on bond of $150,000.