Damewood fired as theater director amid abuse charges | Arts & Culture

Galesburg, Ill.--Four days after he turned himself in to Galesburg Police on charges of sexual abuse of a minor, President and Managing Director of the Orpheum Theatre Josh Damewood has been fired from his position.The theater’s board of directors made the decision at a special meeting for personnel on Wednesday. The termination is effective immediately. 

Original Story

The president and managing director of the Orpheum Theatre in Galesburg is facing two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Joshua Damewood, 25, reportedly surrendered Saturday morning, December 29, 2012.  Damewood is accused of exchanging explicit photos and of having sexual contact with a teenage boy in October 2012. 

The Galesburg Register-Mail reports Damewood originally denied the allegations but that he later confessed but said he thought the boy was 18 years old.

Damewood, who is from Monmouth, was released from the Knox County Jail after posting ten percent of his $15,000 bond.  He was next scheduled to appear in court January 28, 2013.

Damewood became operations manager at the Orpheum in May 2008, and was interim president and managing director in April 2012 before taking the position permanently in August 2012.