Cottondale Man Charged With Sexually Abusing Children for 7 Years

A 76-year-old Cottondale man was arrested Tuesday and charged with two felonies tied to his alleged sexual abuse of two children from 2006 until 2013.

In addition to investigating homicides and assaults, the multi-agency Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit is tasked with looking into almost all sex crimes in the Tuscaloosa area.

Captain Jack Kennedy, the VCU's commander, said the unit maintains a sexual assault section that specializes in the investigation of such matters, including old cases -- sex crimes have no statute of limitations in Alabama, and people who were abused as children often report their experiences to law enforcement years after it happens.

Get our free mobile app

According to court documents filed in this case, the victim told investigators that the suspect, Lee Roy Jones, sexually assaulted them "every opportunity he had" for seven years. They said the abuse started when they were 7 years old and continued until they were 14.

A relative corroborated the account and told police Jones sexually assaulted them both when they were children.

Jones was arrested Tuesday and charged with first-degree rape and sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old.

He was placed in the Tuscaloosa County Jail and had been released on a $90,000 bond by Thursday morning.

"It took a great deal of courage for these victims to come forward at this time," Kennedy said.

He added that Jones was known to have had access to children at the time of the alleged abuse and said investigators worry there may have been other victims.

Anyone who was abused by Jones is encouraged to contact the Violent Crimes Unit at (205) 464-8690.