A man has been charged with the sexual assault of his foster children.

The man was a resident of both Pearl River and Hancock counties at the time of the alleged incidents, inciting charges from both, according to press releases from Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department and Hancock County Sheriff’s department.

David Richard “Ricky” Faulkner, 43 of 76 Quail Ct., Carriere, formerly of 7289 Walthall St., Bayside Park, was arrested May 21, for charges from both counties. The Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department has him for charges of lustful touching of a child and sexual battery, while Hancock is charging him with six counts of molestation and one count of directing a juvenile to commit a felony.

All of Faulkner’s foster children were all males, according to a release from the Pearl River department.

After his arrest Faulkner’s adopted children were taken into Department of Human Services custody, the release states. Ages of the children were not released due to the ongoing investigation and more charges are still to be filed.

Faulkner’s bond was set at $30,000 for the sexual battery and $15,000 for the touching of a child with lustful purposes, both cash, by Justice Court Judge John Mark Mitchell on May 22. The preliminary hearing for Faulkner was set for June 19.

Investigator Kenny Hurt with the Hancock Sheriff’s Department and Detective Christa Groom with the Pearl River Sheriff’s Department were not available for comment on the case.

According to the Hancock release Faulkner and his wife, Melissa, were foster parents from 1994 until 2006.

The arrest was the product of cooperation of several state and local agencies including the Child Advocacy Center in Gulfport, MS Childhelp USA of Knoxville, Tenn., District Attorney’s office and the Mississippi Department of Human Services, according to the Hancock release.

Residents with additional information about Faulkner should be directed to either sheriff department.