Lanett man charged with sexual abuse charges

Published 10:57 am Tuesday, April 23, 2019

LANETT — A Lanett man was arrested Monday on sexual abuse charges, according to the Lanett Police Department.

Kaleb Thomas, 20, has been charged with second-degree sexual abuse, second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy.

Lanett Patrol Captain Richard Casner said the victim in the case was a juvenile and the incident was called in by the victim’s family.

Email newsletter signup

He said details are scarce as of Tuesday morning as investigators have not interviewed Thomas.

In Alabama, second-degree rape is a Class B felony and can be applied to cases where the victim is younger than the age of consent — 16 years old — even if the victim willingly engages in sexual relations with the defendant.

Second-degree sodomy is also considered a Class B felony, according to Alabama statute.

The punishment for a Class B felony is no less than two years in prison and no more than 20 years.