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February 12, 2009

Two alleged child sex offenders arrested in separate incidents

By Patrick McCreless

staff writer

Investigators with the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office and Cullman Police Department recently arrested two alleged child sex offenders one day apart of each other.

According to police reports, Charles Kenyon Moore, 40 of Cullman was arrested Tuesday on charges of sodomy in the first degree, sexual abuse of a child less than 12-years-old and sexual abuse in the first degree.

Sheriff’s reports indicate Richard Keith Staton, 47 of Colony was arrested Monday on a charge of sodomy in the first degree.

Capt. Max Bartlett of the Cullman Police Department said the allegations against Moore were investigated for several weeks prior to his arrest.

“The arrest was based off probable cause,” Bartlett said.

Reports state Moore knew the victim prior to the alleged incidents and that the incidents occurred over several years.

Chief Deputy Tony Quick said Staton’s alleged crime was recently reported to the sheriff’s office, however, the incident supposedly took place in 2007.

“There’s no statute of limitations on sex crimes,” Quick said. “Enough probable cause was found to arrest him.”

Sheriff’s reports indicate the victim was a teenager who knew Staton prior to the alleged incidents.

“And the incidents happened on more than one occasion,” Quick said.

Staton is incarcerated at the Cullman County Detention Center on a $60,000 bond. Moore is currently out of jail on a $15,000 bond.

Quick said the main investigator in the Staton case requested a high bond due to the particulars of the case.

“We do that sometimes ... on a case by case basis,” Quick said. “Every case is different.”

Quick said investigators request higher bonds for some suspects for various reasons, including past criminal history or if they are flight risks. The reasons why the investigator requested a higher bond for Staton were not provided.

Sodomy in the first degree is a Class A felony, punishable by up to life in prison. Sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison while sexual abuse in the first degree is a Class C felony, which carries a possible prison sentence of not more than 10 years.



‰ Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.

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