According to the detective's probable cause statement used as the basis of the charge, the investigation started this month. The detective said a woman reported the girl said Ferguson touched her "bad spot" and taught her to mimic the motions of sexual intercourse.

The first time the detective interviewed Ferguson, the probable cause statement says, Feguson only disclosed one incident when he wrongly touched the girl. He said it occurred accidentally while he was carrying the girl across a highway.

In the next interview, the statement says, Ferguson confessed that he purposely touched the girl through her clothing several times, and "fantasized about having sexual intercourse" with her. He also said he told the girl "in a non-threatening manner to not tell anyone what he had done in fear of what may happen."

Later during the interview, the detective wrote, Ferguson said he may have wrongly touched her 15 to 20 times, including one time when she was naked and taking a bath. The detective said Ferguson "went on to agree he knew some of the things that happened were wrong. He also stated he was sorry for what had happened."

Troopers arrested Ferguson on Wednesday evening after he was interviewed on Tuesday for the second time in 10 days. The Texas County prosecuting attorney formally charged Ferguson with first-degree child molestation on Thursday. If convicted, he could get a prison sentence between five and 15 years.

The Licking mayor says Ferguson's position is a volunteer job. Ferguson graduated from Licking High School in 2002.