Atmore man, 53, accused of sex with child 12-16 years old
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
A 53-year-old Atmore man remained in the Escambia County Detention Center this week, charged with second-degree rape and incest for allegedly having had sexual relations several times over the course of three years with a female relative who was between the ages of 12 and 16 at the time.
Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks confirmed that city police arrested William Earl Shavers of a White Street address on November 6, after completion of an investigation by police, Escambia County Department of Human Resources investigators and interviewers from Escambia County Regional Child Advocacy Center.
“A complaint was filed with APD concerning a possible rape and incest,” Brooks said, noting that the alleged crimes reportedly place when the victim, now 17, was between 13 and 15 years old. “An investigation was conducted with DHR and the Advocacy Center, and the allegations were confirmed.”
Brooks said the crimes were committed at a location inside Atmore’s city limits, between January 1, 2017, and December 23, 2019.
Shavers is being held under a $250,000 bond. If he makes bond, he will be required to wear an ankle monitor and to avoid any contact with his alleged victim.
Second-degree rape is a Class B felony that occurs when a person who is at least 16 years old — and at least two years older than his sexual partner — engages in sexual activity with a person who is younger than 16 but older than 12, or with a person who is mentally incapable of giving consent.
A conviction on such a charge is punishable by a prison term of not less than two years and not more than 20, as well as a fine of up to $30,000.
Incest is a Class C felony that occurs when a person marries or engages in sexual intercourse with a person he or she knows to be (a) his or her ancestor or descendant by blood or adoption, (b) his or her brother or sister by whole-blood, half-blood or adoption; (c) his or her stepchild or stepparent, while the marriage creating the relationship exists, or (d) his aunt, uncle, nephew or niece of the whole or half-blood.
Such a crime is punishable upon conviction by a prison term of not more than 10 years and not less than one year and one day (366 days). A fine of up to $15,000 could also be imposed.