Rape suspect turns himself in, says he's innocent

PINE BLUFF, AR - Anthony Welspom turned himself in to Pine Bluff police Wednesday, but first, he called Fox16 and said he wanted to talk.

"I never touched her, I never hit her, none of that," Welspom said.

Police accuse Welspom of rape, kidnapping, and burglary. Welspom says he found out about the charges after a friend saw the story on Fox16 and called him.

"I told him 'man, you crazy.' He said, 'I'm serious.' Right then," explained Welspom, "I called the sheriff's department."

Welspom says a scorned ex-girlfriend made the charges against him, and they are all lies.

"I'm innocent," he said. "I was falsely accused for a game that was personal and emotional. It had nothing to do with criminality or abuse."

Police officers wouldn't get into details of the incident, but say they still think Welspom is guilty.

"Despite anything that he might say, we've got probable cause to arrest him," said Capt. Greg Shapiro shortly after Welspom turned himself in. Welspom though, says he turned himself in because "innocent men have nothing to hide."

"I just want people to know that I didn't do anything," he said.

According to police, Welspom will make his first appearance in district court Thursday morning.