A Dresden man has been arrested on several sex-related offenses.

Mark E. Cooper, of 137 E. Maple St. Apartment 2, was charged with incest, sexual battery by an authority figure and statutory rape by an authority figure, according to a press release from the Dresden Police Department.

He is being held at the Weakly County Detention Center pending a prelimary hearing.

The district attorney’s office is requesting that Cooper be held without bail, according to the press release.

“Lt. James Halter of the Martin Police Department was a valuable asset in the investigation, and without his expertise and child abuse knowledge, this case may have been compromised,” the release stated.

Dresden Police chief Randal Walker and Capt. Danny Taylor were also a part of the investigation.

(WCP 1-31-13)