COLUMBUS — The sports editor of the Columbus daily newspaper was arrested Tuesday for the exploitation of a child.

Ronald Scott Walters, 47, was arrested by Starkville Police Tuesday on a warrant by the Horn Lake Police Department. At the time of the arrest, Walters was the sports editor of the Columbus Dispatch.

Officials with the Horn Lake Police Department told the Columbus Dispatch the victim in the case and his parents reported a sexual assault in November. The unnamed victim, who was a male under the age of 18, identified Walters and told police he had met Walters in Horn Lake.

Walters had worked as The Dispatch since August 2011, when he joined as a sports reporter. He had been promoted to sports editor in early February.

Walters is currently in custody in Oktibbeha County Jail but will be transferred to Horn Lake.