By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
A 55-year-old Atmore man finds himself behind bars this week, charged with the rape several months ago of a friend’s child who had not yet reached his or her 13th birthday.
Atmore Police Department Sgt. Darrell McMann confirmed this week that Curtis Lee Smith was arrested last Friday, April 15, after a joint investigation conducted by APD detectives and Escambia County Department of Human Resources investigators.
The probe that led to Smith’s arrest was launched last fall after a parent of the child reported the alleged sexual transgressions to police.
“On October 30, 2021, a parent brought their child to the police department in reference to an adult sexually abusing his child,” said McMann. “The suspect was described as a family friend, Curtis Smith of Atmore.”
Investigators determined that the child was telling the truth when he or she reported that Smith had committed several sexual acts with the youngster. A warrant was obtained, and Smith was arrested without incident.
According to an employee of the Escambia County Detention Center’s booking and release division, Smith remained in jail late Monday, April 18, under a $500,000 bond. He faces one count each of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12.