NEWS SOURCE

02-17-2010

ON 02-16-2010, JOSEPH KENDALL HENDERSON, 20 YEARS OLD, OF ANDALUSIA, ALABAMA WAS ARRESTED FOR ONE COUNT OF SEXUAL ABUSE 1ST DEGREE, A CLASS C FELONY. HENDERSON'S BOND WAS SET ON THAT CHARGE AT $150, 000.00. INVESTIGATORS WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT AT HENDERSON'S HOME IN THE EVENING HOURS OF THE 16TH AND RECOVERED HIS COMPUTER AND AND OTHER COMPUTER RELATED EQUIPMENT.

ON 02-17-2010, HENDERSON WAS CHARGED WITH THREE ADDITIONAL CHARGES. THE CHARGES ARE; #2 ENTICING A CHILD TO ENTER VEHICLE, HOUSE, ETC., FOR IMMORAL PURPOSES, A CLASS C FELONY, #3 ELECTRONIC SOLICITATION OF A CHILD, A CLASS B FELONY, #4 TRAVELING TO MEET A CHILD FOR AN UNLAWFUL SEX ACT, A CLASS A FELONY. SPECIFICALLY, HENDERSON IS CHARGED WITH CONTACTING, MEETING, AND ENGAGING IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH A 12 YEAR OLD FEMALE CHILD. HIS TOTAL BOND WAS INCREASED TO $210,000.00.

SOME OF THESE CHARGES ARE NEW LAWS PASSED IN 2009 ADDRESSING OFFENSES INVOLVING ADULTS SOLICITING SEX FROM CHILDREN AND MINORS USING ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND COMPUTERS. SHERIFF MEEKS FEELS, "THESE TYPES OF CRIMES CAN NOT BE TOLERATED. IT SEEMS THAT THESE CASES ARE BEING IDENTIFIED QUICKER BY FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE VIGILANT IN TALKING TO AND CHECKING ON THEIR CHILDREN. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TO BE INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS WORKING DILIGENTLY TO IDENTIFY, APPREHEND, AND STOP CRIMES INVOLVING OUR CHILDREN. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK PROSECUTION IN CHILD CRIMES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW."