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April 18, 2008

Former church piano player indicted on child sex charge

By Patrick McCreless

A Cullman County grand jury recently indicted a registered sex offender and former local church piano player for the alleged sexual abuse of a child.

Michael Likos, 34, was charged during the April grand jury session with sexual abuse in the first degree. Cullman County Sheriff’s reports indicate the victim was a local 7-year-old girl.

The Etowah County Sheriff’s Department currently has Likos listed as a registered sex offender in Gadsden.

“He lived in Gadsden ... he was driving over here on Sunday to play the piano,” said Investigator Sgt. Jimmy Morrow.

Morrow said Likos was working at the Seventh Street Baptist Church, but noted the alleged incident occurred at a local residence.

Rev. Kerry Cleghorn confirmed that Likos had played the piano at Seventh Street Baptist but was no longer employed by the church.

“In March he was let go,” Cleghorn said, adding that Likos’ dismissal was due to the sexual abuse allegations.

Morrow said the victim reported the incident to the sheriff’s office on March 12. However, he said the incident allegedly took place in June 2006.

“That’s more common than not to have a long disclosure,” said Sheriff Tyler Roden.

Since the alleged crime took place in 2006, Morrow said Likos could not be charged with sexual abuse of a child under 12-years-old, which was enacted in 2007 and carries a harsher penalty than sexual abuse in the first degree.

The sheriff’s office called Brooks Place Children’s Advocacy Center to assist in the case.

“We were involved shortly after the case was made,” said Susan Hauk, executive director of Brooks Place.

Hauk said when a sexual child abuse case is reported, it is usually referred to Brooks Place for forensic interviews with the victim.

“I have three highly trained interviewers on my staff,” Hauk said. “We give the child a chance to talk about what may have happened to them.”

Hauk said after investigators review the interview, a decision is made to either make an arrest right then or to gather more evidence.

“Obviously in this case, there was enough there to proceed with an arrest,” she said.

Etowah County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Likos on the Cullman indictment Friday. He was transported to the Cullman County Detention Center, where he is currently incarcerated on a $5,000 bond.

Sexual abuse in the first degree is a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

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