Teen, 18, faces charges for involvement with 14-year-old

An 18-year-old Elba man has been arrested and charged with enticing a child to enter a vehicle, house, etc., for immoral purposes.

The arrest followed a February 8th call to the Andalusia Police Department of a suspicious vehicle parked at Robinson Park.

When officers arrived, the vehicle’s windows were fogged, and the driver’s seat was pushed as far forward as possible. The 18-year-old male exited the vehicle, and officers also found a 14-year-old female in the backseat wearing only undergarments. The two had driven from Elba, and the girl’s parents thought she was out with a group of girls.

Sgt. Al McGraw said once the couple’s ages were determined, they were transported to the APD for interviews. In both the man’s interview, and the girl’s later forensic interview, it was determined that activity between the two constituted violation of Section 13A-6-69 of the Alabama Criminal Code, which states, “It shall be unlawful for any person with lascivious intent to entice, allure, persuade, or invite, or attempt to entice, allure, persuade, or invite, any child under 16 years of age to enter any vehicle, room, house, office, or other place for the purpose of proposing to such child the performance of an act of sexual intercourse or an act which constitutes the offense of sodomy or for the purpose of proposing the fondling or feeling of the sexual or genital parts of such child or the breast of such child, or for the purpose of committing an aggravated assault on such child, or for the purpose of proposing that such child fondle or feel the sexual or genital parts of such person.”

McGraw said the charges constitute a Class C felony, which can carry prison time. If found guilty, the 18-year-old will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

“We want people to understand sex offender laws,” McGraw said.

He explained that in Alabama, the age of consent is 16. However, there cannot be more than two years’ difference in the ages of the parties, to the day. The statute doesn’t just apply to males, he said, as he has previously charged a female involved with a much younger male.

The man’s identity is not being released by the APD, as he might qualify for youthful offender status.