LOWGAP — A Lowgap man has been arrested on four felony counts of sexually abusing a juvenile.
The 61-year-old man has been identified as Michael Cary Riffe of 850 Imogene Church Road by Surry County Sheriff Graham Atkinson. Riffe has been charged with two counts of a first-degree sex offensive and two counts of a statutory sex offense.
“Deputies served a search warrant at his residence yesterday based on information gathered in our investigation,” said Atkinson on Friday. “We found evidence in the residence of what the boy had told us was there.”
Atkinson said there is a possibility there are additional victims.
“There has been a report that there was a previous incident involving another victim,” he said. Atkinson said that report is under investigation.
Riffe was jailed with bond set at $500.







@tams75- Where did you find this out?
In all seriousness though, I really hope and pray he isn't allowed the opportunity to re-offend. If he is and does however, I don’t want people to be confused about how our system failed us, and who exactly was responsible- because the answer to that question is right here in plain sight.
It is a great example of an instance where (as it is almost guaranteed to), the offender repeats, and the people ask "Why wasn't more done to prevent this?" Next time you find yourselves asking this question, recall this situation as a reminder that- as long as you remained silent, you hold a certain amount of responsibility.
Finally, to you "Mt Airy News", you shouldn't hide behind your shroud of silence on this one. As the -only- source of truly local news, it is your obligation to investigate and report when there is an oversight or occurance that endangers local citizens. After all, who else would've kept us informed of the progress (or lack of) being made to save those animals at the shelter.