PINSON, AL (WBRC) -
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office says that the 17-year-old son of a former daycare worker has been charged with sexually abusing multiple children.
Eric Lemont Higdon was arrested Aug. 31 and charged as an adult with sexual abuse of a child less than twelve years old and two counts of sodomy in the first degree with the victim being less than twelve years old.
Higdon posted a bond of $150,000 and was released from the Jefferson County Jail Sept. 2.
Higdon is the son of a former employee of the daycare who has been "dismissed" from work there. The Sheriff's Office says that neither Higdon nor his mother are cooperating with investigators on the advice of their attorney.
The teen was arrested and charged after the Sheriff's Office investigated allegations of sexual abuse at Momma's Place Christian Academy. The daycare has a Pinson address but is located within the city of Clay, Chief Deputy Randy Christian with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said.
Investigators received a report August 18 from a parent that she found her 5-year-old son touching another family member innappropriately. When the mother asked her son why he was doing that, he told her that "the suspect at the daycare had touched him that way."
The Sheriff's Office proceeded to contact all of the families on the daycare roster as well as past customers to determine if there were additional victims. Investigators say there are four total victims: two five-year-olds, one four-year-old and one three-year-old.
Christian says DHR is investigating the allegations and will determine whether or not the daycare will remain open.
DHR spokesperson Barry Spear says the department is cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation.
"Momm's Place Christian Academy is a licensed daycare center. We are investigating possible violations of the Minimum Standards for Daycare Centers. There are no plans to suspend the center's license," Spear said in a statement issued Tuesday.
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