Man Charged With 3 Felonies After Long Sexual Abuse Investigation

A 56-year-old man was charged Friday with three felony sex crimes and a misdemeanor after a months-long investigation by the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, investigators have confirmed.

Captain Jack Kennedy, the commander of the VCU, said the unit's Sexual Assault Section has been investigating the suspect, Lorenzo Williams, for some time.

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Due to the sensitive nature of the case and to protect the identity of the victim or victims, Kennedy did not share specific information about the arrest, except to say Williams was arrested Friday morning and charged with one count each of first-degree sodomy, second-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree sexual abuse.

Williams was booked in the Tuscaloosa County Jail on a consolidated bond set at $60,000 and remained jailed Friday afternoon.

According to court records, Williams was charged with second-degree sodomy in 2016, but accepted a deal to plead guilty to second-degree sexual abuse, a misdemeanor, was sentenced to 12 months in jail and two years on probation.

Kennedy applauded the bravery of victims who report their childhood abuse to police and said because there is no statute of limitations on sex crime in Alabama, charges can be brought against suspects even years after the abuse took place.

"The investigation into the following subject is ongoing, and he had access to children," Kennedy said. "Due to the nature of the abuse, and known proclivities of these types of offenders, we encourage anyone who may have been a victim of either of the subjects below to please contact the Violent Crimes Unit at (205) 464-8690.