By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
An Atmore man was arrested last week after an investigation led to his being charged with three crimes related to an attempted sexual encounter with a child under the age of 12.
Details of the investigation and arrest have not been released, but the Escambia County Detention Center website shows that Joseph Mark Fullerton, 40, was arrested July 16 by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators or deputies.
Fullerton is charged with sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12, which according to Alabama Criminal Code occurs any time a subject 16 years of age or older “subjects another person who is less than 12 years old to sexual contact.”
He is further charged with one count each of first-degree attempted sodomy and enticing a child.
Fullerton was released on $150,000 bond just hours after his arrest.
The child sex arrest marked the 10th time Fullerton has been booked into the county jail since 2009, although most of the previous charges were drug- or alcohol-related.