A Rhea County man has been booked on felony charges of elder abuse in an investigation launched under a new law that went into effect Jan. 1.

Matthew J. Savage Jr., 26, was arrested on two Class D felony charges of vulnerable adult abuse and/or neglect, Rhea County Sheriff’s Office investigator Rocky Potter said. Savage is being held on a $10,000 bond with a court appearance set for March 2.

Potter said the investigation began in December and continued through January as a newly-formed investigative team probed reports that an elderly couple — who were previously staying in the Athens-Sweetwater area — had been dropped off at a local mobile home park without food, medications or personal belongings other than what they had on their backs, Potter said.  FULL STORY HERE