RUSSELLVILLE — Authorities said a 71-year-old Franklin County man is in jail, charged with sexual abuse and sexual torture of a child.

Freddy Hovater, 71, 110 Iris Lane, Spruce Pine, is charged with sexual torture of a child under 12 and first-degree sexual abuse, Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said today.

Oliver said Hovater was arrested Monday night and charged.

Investigators said he is accused of sexually assaulting the child by using a vibrator and the wooden handle of a bell.

Also, officials said he is accused of watching the child take a bath.

Oliver said this had apparently been going on for at least a year at his house, when the child would come to visit.

Investigators said the girl lived near Hovater.

Hovater is being held in the Franklin County Jail without bail at this time.