A press release issued by police Chief Steven Tidwell states a 28-year-old man from Piedmont was charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree rape, two counts of first-degree sodomy and the sexual assault of a child younger than 12.
According to the release, the incident occurred Tuesday.
The man was being held on a $5 million cash bond at the Piedmont City Jail as of Wednesday afternoon. The suspect has been in jail since Tuesday morning, the press release said. A jail employee said prior to the time of Tidwell’s press release Wednesday that the man was being held on possession of drug paraphernalia charges.
The release states the child was found Tuesday morning and received medical treatment. The condition, age and gender of the child were not included in the release. The incident is still under investigation, the report states.
The Star typically withholds the identities of those charged with sex crimes unless they are convicted or plead guilty, because the stigma associated with such charges can linger even if the charges are dropped or the suspect is exonerated.
Repeated attempts to reach Tidwell for more information on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Staff Writer Rachael Griffin: 256-235-3562. On Twitter @RGriffin_Star.
