News

7/20/2005 - Police arrest local man for sexual abuse

An Alexander City man was arrested for the alleged sexual abuse of a child, police said Tuesday.

Antonio Young, 19, of Greenleaf Street was arrested Monday and charged with sexually abusing an 11-year-old Alexander City girl.

Lt. Randy Walters of the Alexander City police department said investigators made the arrest after receiving the incident report this past weekend.

"The victim told police that the alleged incident of sexual abuse occurred back in February but they are just now reporting it," Walters said.

According to the Code of Alabama, there is no limitation of time that prosecution must occur within for any sexual offense involving a victim younger than 16.

Sexual abuse first degree is a Class C felony and carries a prison sentence of no less than one year and one day and up to 10 years and fines up to $5,000.

Sexual abuse and assault crimes have come to the forefront of both local and state news. Three rape incidents were reported in Alexander City earlier this month, and while two of the cases have been closed, one still remains under investigation.

A 16-year-old female reported a possible incident of rape first degree and assault third degree July 4 and a 40-year-old female reported being sexually assaulted July 8 in her home, but both cases were closed due to lack of prosecution. Neither of the cases was related in any way.

"Through the investigations of both incident, police have determined that the allegations made by the victims in both cases were unfounded," Walters said.

The third incident, reported July 12, involved the first-degree rape of a 12-year-old girl by a family member. Investigators are still working on that case and no arrest has been made, Walters said. None of the rape cases were related.

Meanwhile, Gov. Bob Riley and Attorney General Troy King announced a policy change to the state's current convicted sex offender registration system July 14. Convicted sex offenders who fail to provide a verifiable address to the state's sex offender registry can now be re-arrested upon release from prison. In addition, King and members of his Law Enforcement Advisory Committee have revised the state's current sexual offender community notification bill and will introduce it during the special session of the Alabama Legislature, which began Tuesday.

Source: The Alexander City Outlook
By Amy Redd

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