MEMPHIS, Tenn. — After shocking sexual abuse allegations against former Memphis Director of Housing and Community Development Robert Lipscomb emerged, city officials said more accusers have come forward.
On Tuesday afternoon, Mayor A C Wharton’s chief administrative officer Jack Sammons said nine people have now come forward since the initial investigation was announced Sunday.
Sammons said all of the alleged victims were juveniles at the time they claim the abuse happened.
Lipscomb resigned from his position in the Wharton administration Monday night after the mayor said an investigation was started about an inappropriate sexual relationship he had with a 16-year-old 10 years ago.
On Monday, Wharton’s office said they are urging everyone who has a complaint against Lipscomb to contact CrimeStoppers at 528-CASH.
“It’s quite extraordinary,” said Buddy Chapman, the executive director of Memphis CrimeStoppers.
He said his department has never had to deal with a case like the one they have on their hands now, accepting calls of possible sexual complaints against a top city official.
He said when a case gets a lot of attention they expect an influx.
“Any time that a case is publicized as much as this one for a variety of reasons we’ll get calls,” he said.
The city said as of Tuesday evening nine people have made some kind of complaint against Lipscomb.
“You will be referred to sex crimes. We’ve decided the sex crime unit was the best division to handle these,” Chapman said.
As of Tuesday afternoon Chapman said none of the complaints against Lipscomb mean any reward money.
“Because we don’t reward victims and we don’t reward witnesses,” he said.
Wharton was asked now that it’s come to light one accuser tried to report abuse five years ago and it’s just now being known, if he is concerned there are other similar cases.
“You’re always concerned,” he said. “The minute you think, ‘Oh we got it!’ No. I want it to be wide open.”
They urged anyone who has a complaint or knows someone who has a complaint to come forward.
Lipscomb said the accuser the mayor initially told the public about Monday that now lives outside of Seattle has been stalking him. His attorney said he has had no inappropriate relationships.
When WREG went to Lipscomb’s house Tuesday to ask about new reports, no one answered the door, and his attorney did not return phone calls for comment.
